▪ I. smack, n.1
(smæk)
Forms: 1 smæc, 3–4 smac (Orm. smacc), 4–6 smak (6 smake), 5–6 smakke, 4–7 smacke, 6– smack.
[OE. smæc, = OFris. smek, MDu. smac, MLG. smak (LG. smakk, schmakk; also Sw. smak, Da. smag), OHG. and MHG. smac, smach (G. dial. schmack; cf. G. geschmack). Slightly different in formation are OFris. smaka (WFris. smaek), MDu. smake (Kilian smaeck; Du. smaak), MLG. smake (LG. smâk, schmaak). See also smatch n.1]
I. 1. A taste or flavour; the distinctive or peculiar taste of something, or a special flavour distinguishable from this.
| a 1000 in Wr.-Wülcker 225 Dulcis sapor, i. dulcis odor, swete smæc. c 1050 Ibid. 455 Nectar,..þone swetan smæc. c 1200 Ormin 1653 Forr witt and skill iss wel inoh Þurrh salltess smacc bitacnedd. Ibid. 14294 Swa summ þeȝȝ waterr wærenn, Off wikke smacc. 1340 Ayenb. 112 Þet is kynges mete huerinne byeþ ech manyere lykinges and alle guode smackes. a 1400 Stockh. Medical MS. ii. 608 in Anglia XVIII. 322 Of hennebane arn spycys iij..Alle wyll sauour an hidhows smak. c 1475 Henryson Poems (S.T.S.) III. 152 It wilbe þe softar and sweittar of þe smak. a 1536 Proverbs in Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.) 128 Thowgh peper be blak, it hath a good smak. 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. lxxxv. 263 The leaues..are of a very strong and pleasant sauour, and good smacke or taste. 1606 J. Carpenter Solomon's Solace xxviii. 118 Those vessels will long retaine and yeeld the smack of that liquor which was in them first steeped. 1675 Evelyn Terra (1729) 29 Every plant has a smack of the Root. 1710 T. Fuller Pharm. Extemp. 1 Midling Ale..that hath no burnt, musty, or otherwise ill smack. 1761 Churchill Rosciad Wks. 1763 I. 24 And Boniface, disgrac'd, betrays the smack..of Falstaff's sack. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 21 It possesses a dull, acidulous, offensive smack, and an empyreumatic smell. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 245 And now, for perfume, pour Distilment rare,..Till beverage obtained the fancied smack. |
b. fig. or in fig. context.
| 1340 Ayenb. 177 Efterward me ssel lete þane smak of zenne. 1593 in Lyly's Wks. (1902) III. 451 Experience bids me..champe the bridle of a bitter smacke. 1690 Dryden Amphitryon i. i, He's constant to a handsome family; he knows when they have a good smack with them. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis xli, There are works of all tastes and smacks. |
† c. Pleasant or agreeable taste or relish. Obs.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 132 Least Doue and the cadow, there finding a smack, with ill stormie weather doo perish thy stack. 1600 Tourneur Trans. Metam. xxix. 202 If this sweet sinne still feedes him with her smacke. |
† 2. Scent, odour, smell. Obs.
| a 1000 [see sense 1]. c 1250 Owl & Night. 823 Þenne is þes hundes smel fordo; he not þurh þe meynde smak hweþer he schal vorþ þe abak. 1549 E. Allen Par. Rev. 19 A cat of y⊇ mountayne.., whiche with her smacke and savour, draweth many beastes unto her. |
3. transf. A trace, tinge, or suggestion of something specified.
Common c 1570–1680, and in mod. use.
| 1539 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 173 To powre in som smak of the pure lernying of Cristes doctrine amonges them. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iii. (1586) 138 b, Whatsoeuer commeth of an olde stocke, hath lightly a smack of his olde parentes imperfection. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. ii. vi, Good faith, the boy begins to haue an elegant smack of my stile. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. viii. (1840) 191 The others were suspected to have a smack of the imperial faction. 1688 Holme Armoury iii. 233/1 The Orcadians..use the Gothish Language, which they derive from the Norwegians,..of whose qualities they still have a smack. |
| 1845 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Reform. II. 75 Graceful poems—not the less attractive for a slight smack of the workshop. 1874 Burnand My Time xxix. 280 A smack of real earnestness in his tone. |
† b. A slight or superficial knowledge; a smattering. Chiefly in phr. to have a smack of, at, or in something. Obs.
| (a) 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia (1895) 9 If it be one that hath a lytell smacke of learnynge. 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. (1887) 144 Bycause they haue some petie smake of their booke. c 1618 Moryson Itin. iv. 229 Hauing gott a smacke of the grownds of our lawe. 1685–90 J. Cood Wonderful Provid. (1849) 104 A very young man..who had got a smack of the Latin tongue. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest (1820) I. 66, I learned a smack of boxing of that Englishman. |
| (b) 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 151 Whereby he may..haue in al sciences a smacke, whereby he may readily dispute of any thing. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. iii. i, He hath also a smacke in poetry. 1679 M. Mason Tickler Tickled 2 For Padge hath a Smack at Latin, but let them English it that will. |
c. A mere tasting, a small quantity, of liquor; a mouthful. Also fig.
| 1693 Dryden Persius iv. 69 He 'says the wimble, often draws it back, And deals to thirsty servants but a smack. 1759 Garrick High Life below Stairs ii, He has had a smack of every sort of wine. 1766 Anstey New Bath Guide (ed. 2) 135 May I venture to give Her a Smack of my Muse? 1824 W. Irving Tales Trav. I. 18 A relish of the Marquis's well-known kitchen, and a smack of his superior Champagne and Burgundy. 1865 J. Hatton Bitter Sweets iii, We'll just have one smack of the liquor before you're off to Helswick. |
d. A touch or suggestion of something having a characteristic odour or taste.
| 1848 Dickens Dombey vii, There was a smack of stabling in the air of Princess's Place. 1886 Stevenson Silverado Sq. 34 A rough smack of resin was in the air. 1889 Doyle Micah Clarke 320 A gentle breeze, sweet with the smack of the country. |
II. † 4. a. The sense or faculty of taste. Obs.
So OFris. smek, G. (ge)schmack, etc.
| a 1200 Vices & Virtues 17 Ȝesihthe, ȝeherhþe, smac, and smell, and tactþe. |
† b. fig. Delight or enjoyment; inclination, relish. Chiefly in phrases. Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 33 He..to-ualþ ine þa slacnesse þet he ne heþ smak, ne deuocion, wel to done. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia ii. (1895) 254 So quyckelye they haue taken a smacke in couetesenes. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 426 Philautus had taken such a smacke in the good entertainment. 1609 Ev. Woman in Hum. ii. i, I haue no appetite at all to live in the countrie.., now, as they say, I have got a smacke on the Cittie. 1620 Shelton Quix. iii. xi. I. 231 She hath a very great Smack of Courtship, and plays with every one. |
▪ II. smack, n.2
(smæk)
Also 6 smacke.
[Related to smack v.2 Cf. MDu. smack (Kilian smacke; Du. and Fris. smak), LG. smacke, G. dial. schmacke; also Da. smæk, Sw. smäck.]
1. a. A sharp noise or sound made by separating the lips quickly, esp. in kissing, and in tasting or anticipating food or liquor.
| 1570 Levins Manip. 5 Y⊇ smacke of a kisse, suauium. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iii. ii. 180 Hee..kist her lips with such a clamorous smacke, that at the parting all the Church did eccho. 1679 Dryden Limberham i. i, She has a notable Smack with her! I believe Zeal first taught the Art of Kissing close. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 508 ¶3 Tasting the Wine with a judicious Smack. 1739 R. Bull tr. Dedekindus' Grobianus 142 The Dogs may lick it with a sav'ry Smack. 1838 D. Jerrold Men of Character (1851) 10 She..gave me such a salute, a team two fields away went gallop off at the smack. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic 116 With smack of lip, and long-drawn sigh through teeth Close clenched o'er satisfaction. |
b. A loud or sounding kiss.
| 1604 T. M. Black Bk. in Middleton's Wks. (Bullen) VIII. 24 The slave..bussed the bawd for joy: when presently I left them in the midst of their wicked smack. 1651 J. Cleveland Poems 2 Love prints her Signets in her smacks, Those Ruddy drops of squeezing wax. 1729 Gay Polly ii. ix, Come, noble captain, take one hearty smack upon her lips, and then steer off. 1786 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscr. I. 97 Giving the females first a warm smack round. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxiv, ‘Whisht! whisht! gudewife,’ said her husband, with a smack that had much more affection than ceremony in it. |
| transf. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas ii. viii. ¶3 Bestowing such hearty smacks upon the bottle, as to empty it very shortly. |
2. The crack of a whip, lash, etc.
| 1781 Cowper Expost. 519 Thy soldiery..Were train'd beneath his lash, and knew the smack. 1803 tr. P. Le Brun's Mons. Botte II. 10 Five or six smacks of a whip roused their attention. 1825 Sporting Mag. XVII. 36 Old coachmen..like a smack of the whip. 1901 Daily Express 28 Feb. 6/7 At the first swishing smack of the lash. |
3. a. A sounding blow delivered with the flat of the hand or something having a flat surface; a slap.
Also fig. a smack in the face, a sharp rebuff; a smack in the eye.
| c 1746 J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial. (1775) 58 Th' bigger rascot should ha' th' bigger smacks on moor on um. 1789 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Ep. to falling Minis. Wks. 1812 II. 127 Just now and then a gentle smack To inform his Royal Colt what Being rode him. 1827 G. Higgins Celtic Druids 128 A naughty or saucy boy, at school, often gets a smack on the face. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped iii, He jumped up..and hit me a smack upon the shoulder. 1895 A. W. Pinero Second Mrs. Tanqueray iii. 105 One gets so many smacks in the face through interfering in matrimonial squabbles. 1930 A. P. Herbert Water Gipsies viii. 84 ‘I'm leaving here.’ ‘Leaving us, Mr. Bryan?’ Jane thought ‘Oh, Lord, another smack in the face!’ 1941 Baker Dict. Austral. Slang 68 Smack in the eye, a, a disappointment, a refusal, a rebuff. 1949 E. Coxhead Wind in West vii. 191 Well, but it was a nice smack in the face! To keep him, with all his experience..so completely in the dark. 1958 I. Cross God Boy xii. 98, I could tell that what he said was supposed to be a smack in the eye for me. |
b. A vigorous or powerful hit with a cricket-bat.
| 1875 Lillywhite's Cricketers' Ann. 26 Two tremendous ‘smacks’ over the chains sent the crowd into raptures. |
c. colloq. A slap or go at something.
| 1889 Pall Mall G. 30 Dec. 2/2, I am longing to have a smack at these Matabeles. |
† 4. (See quot.) Obs.—1
| 1798 Jane Austen Lett. (1884) I. 169 The ball on Thursday was a very small one indeed, hardly so large as an Oxford Smack. |
5. Comb., as smackwarm nonce-wd. (see quot.).
| 1922 Joyce Ulysses 262 She let free..her nipped elastic garter smackwarm against her smackable woman's warmhosed thigh. |
▪ III. smack, n.3 Naut.
(smæk)
Also 7 smacke.
[prob. a. Du. smak, earlier smacke (Kilian), = LG. smakke, smak (Da. smakke, Sw. smacke), G. schmack(e. The source, and the relation to F. semaque, Sp. esmaque, Pg. sumaca, are uncertain.]
1. A single-masted sailing-vessel, fore-and-aft rigged like a sloop or cutter, and usually of light burden, chiefly employed as a coaster or for fishing, and formerly as a tender to a ship of war.
| 1611 [see 2]. 1684 E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. ii. (ed. 12) 245 The Gravesend Smack. 1689 Lond. Gaz. No. 2468/4 Yesterday came in here a Ketch and a small Smack from the Fleet. 1696 Phil. Trans. XIX. 350 Plenty of large Soals, taken in Troul-Nets, the Smacks being under Sail trailing them along. 1740 Woodroofe in Hanway Trav. (1762) I. ii. xvii. 74 They had..on the stocks..five smacks of one hundred and eighty tons. 1750 T. R. Blanckley Naval Expos. 150 Smacks are necessary Transporting Vessels, with one Mast and half Spreet-sail. 1801 Nelson 4 Aug. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) IV. 440 Pray send one of the Smacks to Hosely Bay with my letter to Sir Edward Berry. 1827 O. W. Roberts Voy. Centr. Amer. 169 A small smack of about fifteen tons burden. 1877 Black Green Past. xxix, Not dangerously for ourselves, but for the anchored schooners and smacks. |
b. U.S. A fishing-vessel having a well in which fish may be kept alive.
| a 1891 Fisherman's Memorial Bk. 70 (Cent.), Many of them were made into smacks, so-called, which was done by building a water-tight compartment amidships, and boring holes in the bottom to admit salt-water, and thus the fish were kept alive. |
2. attrib., as smack commander, smack-master, smack-owner; smack-load; smack-sail, smack vessel, etc.; smack-boat U.S., = sense 1 b (Cent. Dict.).
| 1611 Cotgr., Catepleure,..a smacke, or mizzen sayle. 1683 Hedges Diary 25 Aug. I. 105, 2 Sloops of about 25 Ton apiece, with Smack Sailes. 1688 Sir C. Shovel in Naval Chron. VI. 32, I may have..some other smack vessell. 1737 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. (ed. 33) II. 67 A Smack Commander. 1750 T. R. Blanckley Naval Expos. 149 Shoulder of Mutton, Square, Lugg, and Smack Sails. 1871 Daily News 22 Sept., The principal ship-owners and smack-owners of the port of Ipswich. 1885 Manch. Exam. 4 Feb. 4/7 Three Yarmouth smackmasters charged with piracy on the high seas. 1888 Goode Amer. Fishes 94 In the year 1831..a smack-load of Scuppaugs arrived in Boston. |
▪ IV. smack, n.4 slang (orig. U.S.).
(smæk)
[Prob. alteration of schmeck.]
A drug, spec. heroin.
| 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §509/8 Smack,..a small packet of drugs. 1960 R. G. Reisner Jazz Titans 164 Smack, heroin. 1964 N.Y. Times Mag. 23 Aug. 64/2 Cocaine..referred to as..smack. 1968 Sunday Truth (Brisbane) 6 Oct. 36/3 When I first came here you were a big swinger if you turned on with pot. Now they're going straight on to smack (another slang word for heroin). 1969 Oz May 36/1 In the paper today it said that Jimmy Hendrix got busted for smack. 1976 R. Condon Whisper of Axe ii. vii. 208 She began by having the smack pushers recruit from 53 street gangs. 1980 P. Kinsley Vatchman Switch xii. 91 You're dealing and..I'm going to prove it. You're into opium and smack. |
▪ V. smack, v.1
(smæk)
Also 4, 6–7 smacke, 4–5 smakke.
[f. smack n.1 Cf. MHG. smacken (G. schmacken), NFris. smak, Icel. smakka (from G.). For variant forms see smake v. and smatch v.]
1. trans. Of persons: To perceive by the sense of taste. † Also fig., to experience; to suspect.
| 1340 Ayenb. 93 Huo þet hedde wel ytasted and ysmacked þe ilke zuetnesse þet god yefþ to his urendes. Ibid. 106 Huanne þe man onderuangþ þise yefþe he..smackeþ and uelþ þe zuetnesse of god. a 1550 Image Hypocr. i. 48 in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 414/1 We..Must sey that white is blacke, Or elles they sey we smacke, And smell we wote not what. 1591 Greene Conny Catch. i. Wks. (Grosart) X. 17 If he smack the setter, and smels a rat by his clawing,..then away goes the setter. 1648 Hexham ii, Smaecken ende Proeven, to Tast, or to Smack a proofe of wine, &c. 1827 Carlyle Germ. Rom. I. 175 He soon smacked the taste of physic hidden in this sweetness. |
2. intr. Of food, liquor, etc.: To taste (well or ill); to have a (specified) taste or flavour; to taste or savour of something.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vii. lxix. (Bodl. MS.), Som bitter þinges..þat smakkeþ [1495 smackyth] of aloye. 1530 Palsgr. 722/1 This veneson smacketh to moche of the pepper. 1573 Barret Alv. s.v., [It] Smacketh like pepper. 1648 Hexham ii, Smaeckelick, that Smacks, Savours, or Tasts well. 1755 Smollett Quix. (1803) IV. 271 Your fingers smack of vinegar! 1846 Edin. Rev. LXXXIV. 175 The best Xeres that ever smacked of the skin. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xi. 73 Tea..had been left a whole night in contact with its leaves, and smacked strongly of tannin. |
| fig. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 18 Indeede my Father did something smack, something grow too; he had a kinde of taste. [1813 Scott Let. in Lockhart (1837) III. ii. 64 Our little friend..is, notwithstanding his many excellent qualities, a little on the score of old Gobbo—doth somewhat smack—somewhat grow to.] |
b. fig. To partake or savour of, to be strongly suggestive or reminiscent of, something.
Very common in the 19th cent.
| 1595 Shakes. John i. i. 208 He is but a bastard to the time That doth not smacke of obseruation, And so am I whether I smacke or no. 1603 ― Meas. for M. ii. ii. 5 All Sects, all Ages smack of this vice. 1657 W. Morice Coena quasi κοινὴ v. 60 An argument smacking more of the Beast than rational Creature. 1748 Thomson Castle Indol. i. vi. 53 Whate'er smacked of 'noyance, or unrest, Was far far off expelled. 1778 H. More Florio i. 177 A mass of knowledge, Which smacks of toil, and smells of college. 1858 J. B. Norton Topics 147 On the other hand, however, this scheme smacks of centralization. 1892 G. S. Layard C. Keene iii. 65 It was part of his nature to love everything that smacked of antiquity. |
c. With adjectival complement.
| 1847 Disraeli Tancred vi. v, He always calls her a moon or a star; that smacks nocturnal and somewhat sombre. |
† 3. To have a trial at something. Obs.
| a 1653 G. Daniel Idyll. v. 69 He smacks at everie Science; and præscribes Rules as he had Quarter'd 'em, into Tribes. |
▪ VI. smack, v.2
(smæk)
Also 6–7 smacke.
[Corresponds to MDu. and MLG. smacken (Du. and LG. smakken, Fris. smakke), G. dial. schmacken, prob. of imitative origin.]
1. a. trans. To open or separate (the lips) in such a way as to produce a sharp sound; to do this in connexion with eating or drinking, esp. as a sign of keen relish or anticipation.
| 1557 Seager Sch. Vertue in Babees Bk. 344 Not smackynge thy lyppes As comonly do hogges. 1736 Ainsworth i, To smack one's lips, labiis strepitum edere. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey vi. i, As he smacked his lips after dashing off his glass. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xli, Tom..smacked his lips over the long-necked glass. 1872 Darwin Emotions viii. 214 The Australians smacked and clacked their mouths at the sight of his horses. |
b. intr. or absol. Also with at.
| 1608 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. iii. Schisme 744 The King..Dreams of the dainties he hath had yer-while, Smacks, swallows, grindes both with his teeth and jaws. 1675 H. Woolley Gentlew. Comp. 71 Do not smack like a Pig, nor make any other noise which shall prove ungrateful to the company. 1760–2 Goldsm. Cit. W. lxxi, She had praised detestable custard, and smacked at wretched wine. a 1764 Lloyd Fam. Ep. to Friend 280 Wks. (1790) 280 In vain I taste, and sip and smack, I find no favour of the Sack. 1840 Thackeray Shabby-genteel Story iii, Mr. Gann. (Smacks.) ‘A fine fruity wine as ever I tasted.’ |
| fig. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1687) I. xvii. 248 He that pleasingly relisheth and smacketh at it, or expresseth a delightfull complacence therein,..is a sharer in the guilt. |
c. trans. To taste (wine or liquor) with keen relish or satisfaction.
Perh. influenced by or confused with smack v.1
| 1822 W. Irving Braceb. Hall vii. (1877) 65 Said the general..as he smacked a glass of rich burgundy. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxi, George,..filling himself a glass of wine, smacked it. 1850 ― Pendennis viii, ‘But of course’, added the Major, smacking the wine [etc.]. |
2. a. To kiss noisily or loudly. Now Obs. or dial.
| 1570 Levins Manip. 5/28 To smacke, kisse, suauiare. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 288 Abusing the lips..in smacking and kissing the upper leather of an olde shoe, reserved for a Relique. 1586 Warner Alb. Eng. i. ii. x. 73 God blesse thee Mouse the Bridegroome sayd, and smakt her on the lips. a 1658 Cleveland Old Man Courting 49 Wks. (1687), Come smack me then my pretty Dear. 1746 Francis tr. Hor., Sat. ii. v. 134 Your prudent honourable Spouse, It seems, was faithful to her nuptial Vows. But had she..smack'd Her Cully [etc.]. 1807–8 W. Irving Salmag. (1824) 368 Smacking the lips of all fair ladies the which he did meet. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss., Smack, to kiss with a noise. |
† b. to smack calf-skin (see quot. 1785). slang.
| 1785 Grose Dict. Vulgar T. s.v., To smack calves skin, to kiss the book, i.e. to take an oath. a 1791 ― Olio (1796) 231 But smacking calf-skin to an alibi, I..brought her off. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xx, Why, I have smacked calf-skin fifty times in England for a keg of brandy. |
3. To crack (a whip, thong, etc.).
| a 1700 [implied in smacking-cove s.v. smacking ppl. a. 1]. 1728 Young Love of Fame v. 126 As she guides it [a horse] thro' th' admiring throng, With what an air she smacks the silken thong. 1780 Mirror No. 84, The noise of somebody below, who hooted and hollow'd, smacked his whip. 1826 W. Robinson in J. A. Heraud Voy. & Mem. Midshipm. xi. (1837) 194 The whip is of very great length..; it requires both hands to smack it. 1843 Lefevre Life Trav. Phys. i. ix. I. 197 The four postilions smacked their whips in concert. |
| absol. 1812 Combe Syntax, Picturesque xxii. 208 The coachman smack'd, and off they bounc'd. |
4. To bring, put, or throw down with a smack or slap; to clap (the hands) together; to slam (a door) to. Also fig.
| 1801 tr. Gabrielli's Mysterious Husb. II. 200 The attending servant having smacked to the door, they drove off in a moment. 1834 De Quincey Autob. Sk. Wks. 1853 I. 73, I smacked my little kingdom of Gombroon down into the tropics. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. iv, Says the guard, smacking his hand down on his knee. 1871 Meredith H. Richmond v. (1889) 44 He smacked his hands together. |
5. a. To strike (a person, part of the body, etc.) with the open hand or with something having a flat surface; to slap. Also spec. to chastise (a child) in this manner and fig.
| 1835 Dickens Seven Dials in Bell's Life 27 Sept. 1/1 Mrs. A. smacks Mrs. B.'s child for ‘making faces’. 1840 Thackeray Shabby-genteel Story ii, The unfeeling girl..never offered to smack her mamma's hands,..or to restore her with a glass of water. 1856 F. E. Paget Owlet of Owlst. 167 Won't she smack you all over? 1881 Besant & Rice Chapl. of Fl. i. iv, He smacked his leg with his hand, and burst out laughing. 1892 G. B. Shaw Let. 12 Aug. (1965) I. 359 Smacking Bebel & Singer in the eye for their dénigrement of our programme. 1918 E. Pound Let. 1 Jan. (1971) 127, I liked your comment p. 89, Nov. no. Naturally pleased to see the folk song idea smacked again. 1976 Evening Post (Nottingham) 14 Dec. 18/9 It appeared to have been put there by her two-year-old son, who had been smacked for moving things about the house. |
b. To hit (a ball) vigorously with a cricket-bat. Also absol.
| 1882 Daily Telegr. 24 June, Steel supplemented this by smacking the same bowler to the on for a quartette. 1894 Gale Cricket Songs 59 The Champion smacked, and the Terror's reign Could not bring his wicket under. |
c. to smack it about (see quot. 1962). Naut. slang.
| 1914 ‘Bartimeus’ Naval Occasions i. 5 Better man your boat from the boom and shove straight off. Smack it about! 1915 ― Tall Ship iv. 71 It's three o'clock now, so I advise you to smack it about and clean if you're going ashore. 1962 W. Granville Dict. Sailors' Slang 108/2 Smack it about!, naval exhortation to the hands to ‘get a move on’;..from the smacking of paint brushes about the ship's hull by the side party. |
6. intr. To make or give out a sharp smacking sound; to crack.
| 1890 Fishing Gaz. 13 Dec. 321/2 Eels are smacking all round in the star-lit water. 1892 Lumsden Sheep-head 38 The crowd gart muskets smack there. |
7. Used with adverbial force. a. With, or as with, a smack; suddenly and violently; slap. Also with down, through, etc.
| 1782 Cowper John Gilpin 41 Smack went the whip, round went the wheels. 1799 Geo. [IV] in Paget Papers (1896) I. 150 He..tumbled..smack on his face. 1806 H. Siddons Maid, Wife, & Widow II. 101 Smack comes a ball from the enemy and carries away his head. 1836 T. Hook G. Gurney I. 239 So away I went—smack bang into a quaker's shop to buy myself a pair of gloves. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting v. 141 As I ducked under on the lower side he came smack through. |
b. Completely, entirely; directly.
| 1828 Whewell in Todhunter Acc. Writ. (1876) II. 90 We have got a decision which is smack against us. 1857 A. Mathews Tea-Table T. II. 128 The wind being smack in their teeth the greater part of the voyage. 1864 Tytler Hist. Scot. III. 387 [Cardan] made the bishop smack whole in twenty-four hours. |
8. In Comb., as smack-bottom, a childish expression for a smack on the bottom given in chastisement.
| 1970 P. Laurie Scotland Yard iii. 89 ‘Put them down, Pop, or you'll get a smack-bottom.’.. The old man has gone back to babyhood. 1978 K. Amis Jake's Thing xvii. 182 What he needs is a damn good smack-bottom and being told not to be so boring. |
Add: Hence smacked ppl. a., in various senses; esp. in smacked bottom (cf. smack-bottom, sense 8 above).
| 1886 Trans. Amer. Philol. Assoc. XVII. 46 Smacked (ground—as smacked corn). c 1960 F. D. Osgerby in J. Burnett Destiny Obscure (1982) i. 90 If any of us cried for some reason she was not aware of we got a smacked bottom. 1983 [see sub-world s.v. sub- 5 c]. |