Smatch (?), n. [OE. smach, smak. See Smack taste.] Taste; tincture;
smack. [Obs.]
Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it.
Shak.
Smatch, v. i. To smack. [Obs.] Banister (1578).
Smat"ter (?), v. i. [OE. smateren to make a noise; cf. Sw. smattra to
clatter, to crackle, G. schmettern to dash, crash, to warble, quaver.]
1. To talk superficially or ignorantly; to babble; to chatter.
Of state affairs you can not smatter.
Swift.
2. To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of
anything; to smack.
Smat"ter, v. t. 1. To talk superficially about.
2. To gain a slight taste of; to acquire a slight, superficial
knowledge of; to smack. Chaucer.
Smat"ter, n. Superficial knowledge; a smattering.
Smat"ter*er (?), n. One who has only a slight, superficial knowledge; a
sciolist.
Smat"ter*ing, n. A slight, superficial knowledge of something;
sciolism.
I had a great desire, not able to attain to a superficial skill in
any, to have some smattering in all.
Burton.
Smear (smr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smeared (smrd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Smearing.] [OE. smeren, smerien, AS. smierwan, smyrwan, fr. smeoru fat,
grease; akin to D. smeren, OHG. smirwen, G. schmieren, Icel. smyrja to
anoint. See Smear, n.] 1. To overspread with anything unctuous,
viscous, or adhesive; to daub; as, to smear anything with oil. "Smear
the sleepy grooms with blood." Shak.
2. To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally;
as, to be smeared with infamy. Shak.
Smear, n. [OE. smere,. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeer, G.
schmeer, OHG. smero, Icel. smjör, Sw. & Dan. smör butter, Goth. smaírþr
fatness, smarna dung; cf. Lith. smarsas fat. Cf. Smirch.] 1. A fat,
oily substance; oinment. Johnson.
2. Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance;
a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain.
Slow broke the morn, All damp and rolling vapor, with no sun, But
in its place a moving smear of light.
Alexander Smith.