▪ I. smuggle, v.1
(ˈsmʌg(ə)l)
Also 7 smuckle, 8 smugle.
[App. of LG. or Du. origin. The earlier form smuckle corresponds to LG. smukkeln (G. dial. schmuckeln, schmucheln) or Du. smokkelen, while the slightly later smuggle agrees with LG. smuggeln (G. schmuggeln, Da. smugle, Norw. smugla, Sw. smuggla). The origin of the term, and the precise relationship of the two types, is not clear. Cf. smuggler, which appears earlier.]
1. trans. To convey (goods) clandestinely into (or out of) a country or district, in order to avoid payment of legal duties, or in contravention of some enactment; to bring in, over, etc., in this way.
| a 1687 Petty Pol. Arith. iv. (1691) 84 Two Hundred thousand pounds smuckled by the Merchants. 1687 Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, To Smuckle. See to Smuggle. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Smuggle Goods, to run them ashore, or bring them in by stealth, without paying the Custom. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 36 In order afterwards to smuggle them back again into this country. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. ii. v, Weapons, military stores can be smuggled over (if the English do not seize them). 1846 M{supc}Culloch Acc. Brit. Emp. (1854) II. 397 The means of preventing its being smuggled or the duty evaded. |
b. intr. To practise smuggling.
| 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1729) I. 308 The Spaniards can and will Smuggle (as our Seamen call Trading by stealth) as well as any Nation that I know. 1830 Marryat King's Own xxiii, We don't mean to smuggle any more. 1845 M{supc}Culloch Taxation ii. vi. (1852) 251 The temptation to smuggle was diminished. |
† 2. to smuggle the coal (see quot.). slang. Obs.
| 1687 Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, To smuggle the Coal, to make people believe one has no Money when the Reckoning is to be paid. |
3. transf. a. To get possession of by stealth.
| 1766 Gray Kingsgate 3 The pious resolution To smuggle a few years. c 1790 in Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 832, I shall prove the Excise Office to be the greatest smuggle[r] in the nation, for they smuggled the ground from the public. |
b. To convey, etc., in a stealthy or clandestine manner. Const. with advs. and preps., as away, in, into, off, out of, through, etc.
| 1783 W. Gordon Livy v. ii. (1823) 400 Among all that number a single Plebeian could not be smuggled in. 1816 Scott Old Mort. x, She smuggled him out of the garrison through the pantry window. 1853 Lytton My Novel xii. xxxi, I have two private bills I want to smuggle through Parliament. 1872 Black Adv. Phaeton xiii. 177 On our entrance the document was hastily folded up and smuggled away. |
c. intr. To make off stealthily.
| 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. (Tauchn.) X. 263 These good people are smuggling off. Let them go in peace. |
▪ II. † ˈsmuggle, v.2 Obs.
[Of obscure origin: cf. snuggle v.]
trans. To cuddle, fondle, caress.
| 1679 M. Prance Narr. Popish Plot 36 This pretious Saint..hath been seen to..kiss her many times over, as if it had been part of her Penance to be most filthily smuggled. 1698 Farquhar Love & Bottle i. i, Oh, the little Lips!—and 'tis the best natur'd little dear.—(Smuggles and kisses it.) 1709 Brit. Apollo No. 75. 3/1 He was smugling Blouze. 1719 D'Urfey Pills II. 195 He Smuggled her, and Squeez'd her. |
| absol. 1709 E. Ward Hud. Rediv. i. 68 You may smuggle and grope. |