smeddum

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“
He has plenty of courage, at all events, and that is a fine thing Ow ay,' answered Robert; 'he's no ill aff for smeddum (spirit)--that is, gin it be for ony ither body.

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Definitions (3)

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  1. The powder or finest part of ground malt; also, powder, of whatever kind.
  2. Sagacity; quickness of apprehension; gumption; spirit; mettle. A kindly lass she is, I'm seer, Has fowth o' sense and smeddum in her. Skinner's Misc. Poet., p. 156. (Jamieson.)
  3. [In this sense often smitham.] Ore small enough to pass through the wire bottom of the sieve [north of England]; in coal-mining, fine slack [Midland coal-field, England]; also, a layer of clay or shale between two beds of coal (Gresley).

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Etymologies (1)

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Also smitham, smithum (lead ore beaten to powder), from Anglo-Saxon smedema, smidema, smedma, also smedeme, meal, fine flour.
 

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