Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Smoth, Smooth, v. [ME and e.m.E. smoþe(n (1340), smoth(e (c1440), smooth (1582); cf. Smoth,adj.] tr. a. To make smooth. b. To flatter (a person). c. To diminish (a problem, etc.). —a. 1689 Galloway P. 20 Sept.
[He] oblisses him … to smoth each stone … with a deshent for casting of watter 1696 Galloway P. 26 May.
[He is] also to cutt the whole timber … and to smooth every root —b. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 44/7.
Lett not youre selfe be smoothed ouer uith that flattering filautia 1608 Breadalbane Lett. 4 July.
Schir be not smothit, and flatterit with the sicht and inspectioun of the euidentis —c. 1707 Wodrow in Maxwell Mem. II 353.
I fear a fast in the English style will goe very ill doun in this country, and if it could be smoothed and reduced to somquhat of our old job-trott … it might prevent much grumbling