Part 498

Smell, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See Smell, v. t.] (Physiol.) 1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See Sense.

2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint.

Breathing the smell of field and grove.

Milton.

That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.

Smell"er (?), n. 1. One who smells, or perceives by the sense of smell; one who gives out smell.

2. The nose. [Pugilists' Slang]

Smell"-feast` (?), n. 1. One who is apt to find and frequent good tables; a parasite; a sponger.

The epicure and the smell-feast.

South.

2. A feast at which the guests are supposed to feed upon the odors only of the viands.

Smell"ing, n. 1. The act of one who smells.

2. The sense by which odors are perceived; the sense of smell. Locke.

Smelling bottle, a small bottle filled with something suited to stimulate the sense of smell, or to remove faintness, as spirits of ammonia.

Smell"-less, a. Destitute of smell; having no odor.

Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint.

Beau. & Fl.

Smelt (?), imp. & p. p. of Smell.

Smelt, n. [AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small silvery salmonoid fishes of the genus Osmerus and allied genera, which ascend rivers to spawn, and sometimes become landlocked in lakes. They are esteemed as food, and have a peculiar odor and taste.

The most important species are the European smelt (Osmerus eperlans) (called also eperlan, sparling, and spirling), the Eastern American smelt (O. mordax), the California smelt (O. thalichthys), and the surf smelt (Hypomesus olidus). The name is loosely applied to various other small fishes, as the lant, the California tomcod, the spawn eater, the silverside.

2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Sand smelt (Zoöl.), the silverside.

Smelt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelting.] [Of foreign origin; cf. Sw. smälta, D. smelten, Dan. smelte, Icel. smelta, G. schmelzen OHG. smelzan, smelzen; probably akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;. Cf. Enamel, Melt, Mute, v. i., Smalt.] (Metal.) To melt or fuse, as, ore, for the purpose of separating and refining the metal; hence, to reduce; to refine; to flux or scorify; as, to smelt tin.

<! p. 1359 !>

Smelt"er (?), n. One who, or that which, smelts.

Smelt"er*y (?), n. A house or place for smelting.