Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1881
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SMITE, n.1 Also smyte. Dim. smittock. [sməit]
1. A small bit, a tiny portion, a particle (Mry. 1825 Jam.). Also in Eng. dial.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present 52:
It's an unco little smite o' tobacco that ye get noo for a bawbee.
2. A small, insignificant person, a weak or puny creature (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 171; ne.Sc., Ags., Per. (smittock) 1970).
[Poss. ad. Smite, v., sc. a piece struck off, a fraction. Cf. Mid.Eng. smit, id., Smit, n., 3. and Smyte, n., with etym. note.]
