smack

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English smac, smak, smacke, from Old English smæċ (“taste, smatch”), from Proto-Germanic *smakkuz (“a taste”), from Proto-Indo-European *smegʰ-, *smeg- (“to taste”). Cognate with English dialectal smatch, Scots smak (“scent, smell, taste, flavour”), Saterland Frisian Smoak (“taste”), West Frisian smaak (“taste”), Dutch smaak (“taste”), German Schmack, Geschmack (“taste”), Swedish smak (“taste”). Akin to Old English smæccan (“to taste, smack”). More at smake, smatch.

Noun

smack (plural smacks)

  1. A distinct flavor.
  2. A slight trace of something; a smattering.
  3. (slang) Heroin.
Derived terms
Translations
distinct flavor
slight trace of something
(slang) heroin — see horse

Verb

smack (third-person singular simple present smacks, present participle smacking, simple past and past participle smacked)

  1. To indicate or suggest something.
    Her reckless behavior smacks of pride.
Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Middle Low German smack (Low German Schmacke, Schmaake (“small ship”)) or Dutch smak.

Noun

smack (plural smacks)

  1. A small sailing vessel, commonly rigged as a sloop, used chiefly in the coasting and fishing trade and often called a fishing smack.

Etymology 3

From or akin to Dutch smakken (“to fling down”), Plautdietsch schmaksen (“to smack the lips”), regional German schmacken (compare Swedish smak (“slap”), Middle Low German smacken, the first part of Saterland Frisian smakmuulje (“smack”)).

Noun

smack (plural smacks)

  1. A sharp blow; a slap. See also: spank.
  2. A loud kiss.
Translations
sharp blow

Verb

smack (third-person singular simple present smacks, present participle smacking, simple past and past participle smacked)

  1. To slap someone, or to make a smacking sound.
  2. To wetly separate the lips, making a noise, in expectation of a treat.
    • 1763, Robert Lloyd, “A Familiar Epistle” in St. James Magazine:
      But when, obedient to the mode / Of panegyric, courtly ode / The bard bestrides, his annual hack, / In vain I taste, and sip and smack, / I find no flavour of the Sack.
Translations
To slap someone
To widely separate the lips

Adverb

smack (not comparable)

  1. As if with a smack or slap
    Right smack bang in the middle.
Derived terms

Anagrams

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Swedish

Noun

smack n

  1. (in the phrase "inte ett smack") smidgeon, piece, small bit

See also

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Last modified on 16 April 2013, at 00:42