smel

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Breathing the smell of field and grove. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, a report smells of calumny. [ 1913 Webster ]

Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To exercise the sense of smell. Ex. xxx. 38. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To exercise sagacity. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who smells, or perceives by the sense of smell; one who gives out smell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The nose. [ Pugilists' Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who is apt to find and frequent good tables; a parasite; a sponger. [ 1913 Webster ]

The epicure and the smell-feast. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A feast at which the guests are supposed to feed upon the odors only of the viands. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of one who smells. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The sense by which odors are perceived; the sense of smell. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Smelling bottle, a small bottle filled with something suited to stimulate the sense of smell, or to remove faintness, as spirits of ammonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An aromatic preparation of carbonate of ammonia and, often, some scent, to avoid or relieve faintness, headache, or the like. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Destitute of smell; having no odor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt. ] 1. (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The most important species are the European smelt (Osmerus eperlans) (called also eperlan, sparling, and spirling), the Eastern American smelt (Osmerus mordax), the California smelt (Osmerus 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 silversides. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sand smelt (Zool.), the silverside. [ 1913 Webster ]