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

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

Smuk(e, Smouk(e, Smok(e, Smek(e, n. Also: smuik(e, smwke, smwik, smeuk, smewk, smuck(e, smowk, smook(e, smoik, smoyk, smoak(e, smocke, sme(e)ik. [ME and e.m.E. smoke (a1154), ME also smike (a1200), smec (Orm), smeke (c1250), smeek (Wyclif), smek (c1400), smok(k (1422), smyk (Prompt. Parv.), also smooke (a1548), smoake (1580), OE sméc, smíc, smýc; smoca (wk. grade of sméocan), MDu. smooc, OFlem. smuick (Kilian smuyck).]The several sources of this word are observable in the various spellings displayed: there being no semantic distinction evident, it is treated as a single entry.

1. Smoke or fumes given off as a result of burning. Also comb. b. specif. Of incense.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxvi 120.
In the depest pot of hell He smorit thame with smvke [M. smuik] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1168.
In ane smedie I be smorit with smuke 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1184.
For smell of smuke, men wyll abhor to beir thé 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 258.
I … saw ane pit most black, Most full of smuke and flaming fyre 1622-6 Bisset II 218/22.
There wetche be day to be with smuke or reik, and on the nycht be fyre(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6686.
In middis the fire he kest him in the smuik [: tuik] a1578 Pitsc. II 39/23.
The wind … blew the smuik and reik of thair poulder wpoun thair marrowis a1585 Polwart Flyt. 667 (T).
Quhair sodomeit synneris with smwik wer smord(c) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts ii 19.
Signis in erd, … blude, and fire, and hete of smewk [P. smoke] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rev. ix 2.
Smeuk 1549 Compl. 42/18.
The reik, smeuk, and the stink of the gun puldir fylit al the ayr(d) 1570 Bann. Memor. 23.
It is not now tyme to us to hyde the burning, whairof the smucke is alreddie begone to discover itself(e) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxx 48.
Ane fieind he wes … He vaneist away with stynk and fyrie smowk [M. smwke] 1531 Bell. Boece II 34.
Throw feir of lowe and smouk [M. smoyk] under nicht, the capitanis … concludit, erar to assailye … than cowartly to be brint to the deith 1604-31 Craig i 40.
From pype of loame … I souke The flegm-attractiue far-fett Indian smouke(f) c1575 Balfour Pract. 633.
Smook 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 9b.
Como vno Spanzola Rodamontado that sayes his beard grew with smook of muscats 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 265.
All the fyres … to continew for the space of xxiiii hours ather smooke or flam 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 599.
The unwholesome smooke of that oven 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 90.
They impute the oftner contagions that happens in Brittain to the smook of our coall, which grossens and … infectes the air, their wood smooking wery little 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV 214.
They … confoundit her … with smook and reik(g) 1513 Doug. iii viii 130.
Ethna … thrawing owt … The blak laithly smoke [Sm. smuke] 1513 Doug. v xii 32.
The pykky smoke [Sm., Ruddim. smok] coil blak 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. ii b.
The smoke of the bottomles pit 1604 James VI Tobacco 95/18.
O omnipotent power of tobacco! And if it could by the smoke thereof chace out deuils as the smoke of Tobias fish did (which I am sure could smel no stronglier) it [etc.] 1604 James VI Tobacco 97/34.
Men … sit tossing of tobacco pipes and puffing of the smoke of tobacco one to another(h) 1513 Doug. xii x 89.
Smoik of sowr and byttir rekis stew(i) 1628 Fugitive Poetry II vii 4/27.
Smell not so sweet into my nose as smoake Of match and powder 1698 Fountainhall Decis. II 25.
A lum at the back of her wall … that … would fill her house with smoak(j) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 104.
And tharefter raisit fyre round about, that the smocke sould compell thayme to yeald(k) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 898 (C).
Fayre Troye … Inne full blak smek [D. smoke] our-rekand was 1587 Carmichael Etym. 32.
Fumus, reik, smeeik 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 25a (see Smellum n.).
Smeik a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxv 2.
I grein to sie the sillie smiddy smeik. This is no lyfe that I live vpalandcomb. 1604 James VI Tobacco 97/27.
Alexander Seuerus … was iustly choked with smoke with this doome, Fumo pereat qui fumum vendidit: but of so many smoke-buyers as are at this present in this kingdome I neuer read nor heard 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 429.
There fabrickes are … of smoke-torne strawb. 1513 Doug. xi xv 45.
The fyry smok of sens … Blesys in the kyndillit byngis of fyr tre c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rev. viii 4.
The smewk of incensis and the praieris of halimen gais up fra the angelis hand befoir God

c. The dirty residue of smoke. Also fig.1560 Rolland Seven S. Schort Schawing 31 (see Smere v. 2 (1)). c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxix 70.
His glorius eyis can nocht abayd The full and fillthe smuk [: clok] Quhairwith I am … Coweritt

2. A volume, cloud, pall, etc. of smoke. Also pl. b. An instance or example of smoke.sing. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 429 (C).
It [sc. the fire] ȝheid qwyt out … But ony byrnyng in one smek [D. smeke] And nought appered but one rek 1456 Hay I 27/25.
Thare come out sik a mysty smoke of hidous reik, lyke as it war out of the pitt of hell 1513 Doug. viii iv 154.
Furth of his throt … A laithly smok he ȝiskis blak as bell 1533 Boece 239b.
Thai … suld … on day be ony hwmyd materialis rais ane smoik to warne the inhabitantis 1587-99 Hume 41/8.
The altar with the blude of beasts, is sprinkled … He makis a smuike, and smelling sweet for payment of his vow 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
The said fyre ewanisit in ane blak smouk 1650 Brechin Presb. 48.
Shee saw lyk a great smoak or a litle light in the house 1662 Highland P. III 18.
A spreit … apeared … and went away as if it were a grene smoakpl. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 856 (C).
With which byrnnyng now it rekys, As wele apperes by the smekes [D. smeikis] 1513 Doug. viii iv 163.
And thar as maist habundyt smokis [Ruddim. smokkis] dyrk, Thar has he hynt Cacus 1513 Doug. xiii vi 218.
Of the laithly smokis … The hevyn dyrknytb. 1604 James VI Tobacco 91/18.
That the suffumigation thereof cannot haue a drying qualitie it needes no further probation then that it is a smoake, all smoake and vapour being of it selfe humide

3. Vapour, fumes, chiefly as caused by the action of heat. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3846.
Ane mekill well, Of quhilk thair rais ane foull smuke and a reik Urquhart Rabelais iii xxxvii.
Demanding payment for the smoak of his roast-meat 1683 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 75.
Warrand … to boyll the said fish when the wind is … southerly allennerly that the smuck pas toward the sea

4. transf. or fig. Denoting something insubstantial, transitory or illusory. c1520-c1535 Nisbet St. James iv 15.
Quhat is your lijf? A smewk apperand at a litil, and eftirwart it salbe wastit 1549 Lamb Resonyng 65/26.
Quharof gif ȝe pruif nocht be pretendit homagis bettir than Sabilicus previs Scotland ane part of Ingland ȝour fyre is bot ane smuke