smutching

English

Verb

smutching

  1. present participle and gerund of smutch

Noun

smutching (uncountable)

  1. (obsolete) Snuff.
    • 1688, James Howell, “To Henry Hopkins, Eſquire.” (chapter VII), in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ, Fourth edition, volume III, "A Third Volume of Familiar LETTERS, Of a Freſher Date.", page 404:
      The Spaniards and Iriſh take [Tobacco] moſt in Powder or Smutching, and it mightily refreſhes the Brain, and I believe there's as much taken this way in Ireland, at [sic] there is in Pipes in England: One ſhall commonly ſee the Serving-maid upon the Waſhing-block, and the Swain upon the Plow-ſhare; when they are overtir'd with Labour, take out one of their Boxes of Smutching, and draw it into their Noſtrils with a Quil, and it will beget new Spirits in them with a freſh Vigour to fall to their work again.
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