Dictionary-Definition.com :: Smelt definition

Definition of 'smelt'

noun

Small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water

noun

Small trout-like silvery marine or freshwater food fishes of cold northern waters

verb

Extract (metals) by heating

From: GCIDE

Smell \Smell\ (sm[e^]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled, Smelt; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelling.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG. smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.]
1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell; to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes. [1913 Webster]
2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. "I smell a device." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Can you smell him out by that? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. To give heed to. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. --Latimer. [1913 Webster]
To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.]
To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

From: GCIDE

Smelt \Smelt\, 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]
Note: 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]

From: GCIDE

Smelt \Smelt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelting.] [Of foreign origin; cf. Sw. sm[aum]lta, 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. [1913 Webster]