smokyadj.n.
/ˈsməʊki/, U.S. /ˈsmoʊki/ A. adj.† 10. Quick to suspect or take note; shrewd, sharp, suspicious. Obsolete.The Dict. Cant. Crew (a1700) also gives ‘jealous’.
1.
a. Emitting smoke in considerable volume.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > products of burning > [adjective] > relating to smoke > emitting smoke
reekingOE
smoky1310
smokingc1374
smooking?a1513
fumish1574
smouldering1577
smeekyc1600
smudgy1878
1310 St. Brendan (Bälz) 472 Þo seie hi..a lond derk inouȝ Smokie as it smyþes were.
c1407 J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte 4122 Than is the fire..Of smoky Ethna the mounteyn.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 461/1 Smoky, fumosus.
1576 G. Gascoigne Complaynt of Phylomene in Steele Glas sig. O.iiiiv A Swallowe..builds in smoky chimney toppes.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. iii. sig. H.viij/1 To set up a percher, a taper, or a smoakie torch.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 775 They vse smokie fires in their rooms.
c1663 A. Cowley Hymn to Light xv In Sympathizing Night he rowls his smoaky Fires.
1727 J. Gay Fables I. xxiii. 79 A wrinkled Hag..Beside a little smoaky flame Sat hov'ring.
1818 Ld. Byron Beppo xl. 21 Where reeking London's smoky cauldron simmers.
1884 St. James's Gaz. 25 July 4/2 Letting off a quantity of the noisiest and smokiest fireworks procurable.
b. Of a chimney: Inclined to send out smoke into the room.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > environmental pollution > [adjective] > bad air > specific > emitting smoke
smokya1641
smoking1667
a1641 J. Smyth Berkeley MSS (1885) III. 31 If many gossips sit against a smokey chimney the smoke will bend to the fairest.
1785 Franklin (title) Observations on Smoky Chimneys.
1844 R. W. Emerson Nature in Ess. 2nd Ser. It..cured the smoky chimney, silenced the creaking door.
1869 E. A. Parkes Man. Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3) 141 The down current coming in puffs is one cause of smoky chimneys.
2. Of vapour, mist, etc.: Having the character or appearance of smoke; resembling smoke; smoke-like.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > [adjective] > of the nature of fumes or vapour > smoky, thick, etc.
smokyc1374
thick1626
vaporo-sulphureous1676
turbid1705
grossa1822
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > products of burning > [adjective] > relating to smoke > smoky, full of, or of nature of smoke > resembling smoke
smokyc1374
reekya1522
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 628 Every maner womman that was there, Hadde of that smoky reyn a verray fere.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) v. xxxvi Þe breeste..putteþ oute smoky vapour þat is ibred in þe hert.
1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 11034 Two ful vnkouth skyes..off smoky mystes & vapours.
a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) 112 There had owt off the sowth A lewk warme wynd browght forth a smoky rayne.
1662 H. Hibbert Syntagma Theologicum 205 By breathing..the gross and more smoky spirits are exhaled out of the breast.
1743 J. Davidson tr. Virgil Æneid vii. 203 The Smoaky Fluid in Foam overflows.
1785 W. Cowper Task v. 105 The light and smoky mist.
1817 J. Bradbury Trav. Amer. 259 The atmosphere..becomes hazy, or what they term smoky.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxix. 246 The frost-smoke was in smoky banks to the north-west.
3.
a. Full of, or charged with, smoke; rendered offensive or disagreeable by the presence of smoke.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > environmental pollution > [adjective] > bad air > specific
smoky1398
mephitic1623
damp1637
mephitical1704
mephitized1794
moted1821
ozoneless1887
motey1893
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > products of burning > [adjective] > relating to smoke > smoky, full of, or of nature of smoke
smoky1398
fumose?a1475
reekya1522
fumish1613
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xii. iii Þere~fore here mewes moste be ferre fro smoky places.
c1407 J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte 6638 Anoon as he his torche hath queynt, The smoky air..Ran..in lengthe and brede.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iii. i. 157 O he is..Worse then a smoky house. View more context for this quotation
1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 39 To lodge within the inclosure of a smokie roofe.
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical x. 116 At the Bar..a charming Phillis or two..invite you..into their smoaky Territories.
1749 G. Berkeley Word to Wise in Wks. (1871) III. 440 It takes the peasant from his smoky cabin into the fresh air.
1806 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 15 366 Ozanne received them in a smoaky hut.
1869 E. A. Parkes Man. Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3) 107 The effect of smoky town atmospheres in producing lung affections.
1891 C. T. C. James Romantic Rigmarole 18 All through a smoky evening I spent in that inn parlour.
b. Blackened or begrimed by smoke.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > dirtiness or soiling with specific kinds of dirt > [adjective] > dirty or soiled with smoke
smeekedc1450
reekya1475
smoky1548
smokified1819
1548 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Fumosæ imagines, olde smoky ymages.
a1592 R. Greene Alcida (1617) sig. E2 Wilt thou..seeke with the smoky Cyclops to kisse Venus hand?
1637 J. Milton Comus 12 In lowly sheds With smoakie rafters.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxiii. 226 The two trees with the smoky trunks were blighted high up.
c. Foggy, misty. Now rare except in proper names. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > mist > [adjective]
mistyOE
nebulose?1440
roky1440
nubilousc1540
hazya1584
misting1584
vaporous1594
nebulous1597
rawky1601
claggy1621
misky1671
rooky1691
nubilose1730
mistful1733
smoky1769
rouky1808
hazed1840
1769 in Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. (1877) XIV. 262 This week much smoky.
1802 A. Ellicott Jrnl. 8 The morning was very smoky.
1824 J. Doddridge Notes Virginia & Pennsylv. xxxi. 266 The smokey time commenced, and lasted for a considerable number of days.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 105 See'd him jess now, comin' over the smoky mountain there.
1885 ‘C. E. Craddock’ Prophet Great Smoky Mountains i. 1 Always enwrapped in the illusory mists,..the peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains are like some barren ideal.
1971 N.Y. Times Encycl. Almanac 1971 243/1 In East Tennessee are the Great Smoky and Cumberland Mountains of the Appalachian range.
4. figurative. Having the obscuring, objectionable, or unsubstantial qualities of smoke. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adjective]
higheOE
dighela1000
deepc1000
darkOE
starkOE
dusk?c1225
subtle1340
dimc1350
subtilea1393
covert1393
mystica1398
murka1400
cloudyc1400
hard?c1400
mistyc1400
unclearc1400
diffuse1430
abstractc1450
diffused?1456
exquisitec1460
obnubilous?a1475
obscure?a1475
covered1484
intricate?a1500
nice?a1500
perplexeda1500
difficilea1513
difficult1530
privy1532
smoky1533
secret1535
abstruse?1549
difficul1552
entangled1561
confounded1572
darksome1574
obnubilate1575
enigmatical1576
confuse1577
mysteriousa1586
Delphic1598
obfuscatea1600
enfumed1601
Delphicala1603
obstruse1604
abstracted1605
confused1611
questionable1611
inevident1614
recondite1619
cryptic1620
obfuscated1620
transcendent1624
Delphian1625
oraculous1625
enigmatic1628
recluse1629
abdite1635
undilucidated1635
clouded1641
benighted1647
oblite1650
researched1653
obnubilated1658
obscurative1664
tenebrose1677
hyperbyssal1691
condite1695
diffusive1709
profound1710
tenebricose1730
oracular1749
opaque1761
unenlightening1768
darkling1795
offuscating1798
unrecognizable1817
tough1820
abstrusive1848
obscurant1878
out-of-focus1891
unplumbable1895
inenubilable1903
non-transparent1939
1533 T. More Answere Poysened Bk. Pref. sig. Aa.iiv The pestylent contagyon of all suche smoky communycacyon.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 277 b Besides vayne crakes of smoky speeches, ye shewe no demonstration of sounde proofe.
1624 R. Skynner Let. in R. Parr Life J. Usher (1686) Coll. ciii. 358 Other points, which these devilish Spirits of the Jesuits..by their smoaky Doctrine do resist.
1633 J. Hart Κλινικη ii. xiv. 193 Their smoakie promises not being seconded by answerable events.
5.
a. Having the flavour or odour of smoke; tasting or smelling of smoke.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [adjective] > having taste
savoureda1398
gusted1535
verdured1541
smoky1542
relished1567
sapient1599
tasted1604
sapid1634
gustable1657
saporousa1670
palated1671
tremulous1675
saltly1736
garlicky1775
slaty1824
trufflesque1841
pepperminty1854
flavoured1867
tasting1907
tomatoey1909
1542 T. Becon Potacion for Lent sig. F.vijv From a smokye pece of Baconne.
1707 J. Floyer Physician's Pulse-watch 332 The smoaky Bitters, Cichory, Carduus.
1892 J. M. Walsh Tea 93 The ‘smoky’ and ‘tarry’ flavors possessed by many of them.
1951 E. David French Country Cooking 26 The smoky wines of Pouilly-sur-Loire.
1978 Sunday Times 19 Feb. (Colour Suppl.) 17/3 Smoky, a delicate aroma that is found in several white wines, often originating from the volcanic soil, and also on the bouquet of Madeira as a result of the latter's special estufado heat treatment.
b. figurative. Of the sound of a musical instrument or voice.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adjective] > timbre or quality > not clear
tubby1807
mushy1924
muddy1950
smoky1958
1958 G. Boatfield in P. Gammond Decca Bk. Jazz xxiv. 312 Noone's deceptively easy clarinet and Kelly's smoky trumpet are noteworthy.
1966 Cavalier Daily (Univ. of Virginia) 11 Nov. 1 The smooth, smoky sound of the Platters combined with their expressive hand jive will entertain students from 9 to 1 Friday night.
6.
a. Of the colour of smoke; dark, dusky; spec. of a brownish or bluish shade of grey.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > grey or greyness > [adjective] > smoky grey
smoky1555
smoked1827
smoke1872
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 248v Halfe an houre after the rysynge, it appeareth troubeled, dymme and smoky.
1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor i. ii. sig. C Hide such reall ornaments..and shadow their glorie as a Millaners wife doth her wrought stomacher, with a smoakie lawne or a blacke cipresse. View more context for this quotation
1647 H. Hexham Copious Eng. & Netherduytch Dict. (Colours) A Smokie colour, een roock-verwe.
1750 tr. C. Leonardus Mirror of Stones 38 Blackness is occasion'd by a smoaky and adust terrene.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) II. 196 The red and smoky colour of their flowers.
1855 D. Brewster Mem. Life I. Newton (new ed.) I. vii. 171 A large crystal of quartz of a smoky colour.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. IV. 288 If it is present in small quantities only, the urine will be smoky.
b. In names of stones, esp. smoky quartz.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > rock crystal > [noun] > smoky quartz
morion1748
smoky quartz1837
smoke quartz1872
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > tectosilicate > [noun] > quartz > crystalline quartzes > others
amethysta1300
citrine1571
morion1748
rose quartz1793
smoky quartz1837
citron1838
tea-stone1848
smoke quartz1872
Cupid's dart1910
1797 Encycl. Brit. XII. 82/1 Blackish brown, smoky topaz, or rauch topaz of the Germans.
1837 J. D. Dana Syst. Mineral. 340 Smoky quartz is a transparent, or translucent crystalline variety, having a smoky color.
1883 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 389 The brown or Smoky Quartz (coloured by a substance containing carbon and nitrogen).
c. In names of moths, bats, birds, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > markings or colourings > [adjective] > smoky
umbrose1783
smoky1827
1827 E. Griffith et al. Cuvier's Animal Kingdom V. 63 Molossus Fumarius (Smoky Bulldog Bat).
1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 87 The Smoky Wainscot.
1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 142 The Smoky Wave.
1871 Cassell's Nat. Hist. I. 320 The Smoky Mastiff Bat is a well-known South American species.
1884 E. Coues Key to N. Amer. Birds (ed. 2) 419 Psilorhinus, Brown Jays. Smoky Pies.
7. Qualifying names of colours.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [adjective] > dull
fadec1290
wannish?a1412
obscure1490
sada1539
dull1552
smoky1576
sober1603
dead1640
dirty1665
invivid1669
dusty1676
saddisha1678
austere1680
worn-out1731
sombrous1792
sombre1805
toneless1833
lacklustre1843
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. Epitome sig. Aiv All smokie blacke as Pitch.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Enfer A darke, and smoakie browne.
1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole 182 The three [leaves] that stand upright [are] of a smoakie yellow.
1706 London Gaz. No. 4249/4 Lost.., a smoaky gray Horse.
1837 Penny Cycl. VII. 26/2 Upper part of the neck smoky red.
1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 47 The Kentish Glory.—Fore wings of the male brown; hind wings orange-colour: all the wings of the female alike, pale smoky-brown.
1872 E. Coues Key to N. Amer. Birds 194 The belly smoky-gray in some localities.
1934 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Smoky~blue.
1934 Discovery June 166/2 Plain burnished red ware and smoky grey pottery.
1974 Men's Wear 29 Aug. 17/2 Smokey-navy motifs on beige.
1976 H. Tracy Death in Reserve xi. 87 A smoky-blue spring evening.
1980 New Age (U.S.) Oct. 58 (advt.) Danish Souperbag..In Smokey Black, Battleship Grey, Bright Blue, and Parrot Green.
8. Steaming, reeking; rising in fine spray.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > [adjective] > of the nature of fumes or vapour > full of or emitting fumes or vapour
reekingOE
fumosec1400
fuming1575
smokyc1590
vaporous1594
fumid1597
smokinga1616
vapouring1648
fumiferous1656
fumigant1727
c1590 C. Marlowe Faustus 1448 My limbes may issue from your smoaky mouthes.
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia v. 323 Fro the wound the smoky blood ran bubling.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis v, in tr. Virgil Wks. 333 Lash'd with their Oars, the smoaky Billows rise; Sparkles the briny Main, and the vex'd Ocean fries.
1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. x. 150 Their oars they seize, And sweep with equal strokes the smoaky seas.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad iii. 117 [They] Then part the smoky flesh, enjoy the feast.
9. Addicted to, associated with, the smoking of tobacco.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > [adjective]
smoky1596
smoking1617
funking1699
whiffing1811
fumous1830
pipe-smoking1835
fumatory1847
nicotiant1877
secondary1975
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. Q4v And to approue his Heraldrie, scutchend out the honorable Armes of the smoakie Societie.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 827 To which opinion, for the excellence of the Tobacco there found, he should happily have the smokie subscriptions of many Humorists.
1806 Lamb in Ainger Life (1882) 65 A smoky man must write smoky farces.
1893 Daily News 26 Dec. 5/1 The sodden and smokey young men who may be found watching football matches.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [adjective]
sharpc888
yepec1000
spacka1200
yare-witelc1275
fellc1300
yap13..
seeinga1382
far-castinga1387
sightya1400
perceivinga1425
snellc1425
politic?a1439
quickc1449
pregnant?a1475
pert1484
quick-wittedc1525
apt1535
intelligentc1540
queemc1540
ready-witted1576
political1577
of (a) great, deep, etc., reach1579
conceited1583
perspicuous1584
sharp-witteda1586
shrewd1589
inseeing1590
conceived1596
acute1598
pregnate1598
agile1599
nimble-headed1601
insighted1602
nimble1604
nimble-witted1604
penetrant1605
penetrating1606
spraga1616
acuminous1619
discoursing1625
smart1639
penetrativea1641
sagacious1650
nasute1653
acuminate1654
blunt-sharpa1661
long-headed1665
smoky1688
rapid1693
keen1704
gash1706
snack1710
cute1731
mobile1778
wide awake1785
acuminated1786
quick-minded1789
kicky1790
snap1790
downy1803
snacky1806
unbaffleable1827
varmint1829
needle-sharp1836
nimble-brained1836
incisivea1850
spry1849
fast1850
snappy1871
hard-boiled1884
on the spot1903
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > [adjective] > observing, observant
perceivantc1390
markingc1580
regardfula1586
regardant1588
curiousa1592
observant1599
observing1607
observative1609
animadversive1642
smoky1688
notice-taking1816
noteful1838
1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia iii. i. 42 They shall find me a smoaky Thief.
1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia iv. i. 67 I am sharp..and smoaky.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 132. ⁋3 Thou art, I see, a smoaky old Fellow, and I'll be very orderly the ensuing Part of the Journey.
1765 S. Foote Commissary i. 22 This old brother of ours tho' is smoaky and shrewd, and tho' an odd, a sensible fellow.
1784 R. Bage Barham Downs II. 132 She is what you call a smoky damsel.
11. U.S. Of horses: Vicious. Also of persons: bad-tempered.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > vicious or bad-tempered
jadish1590
unlucky1678
vicious1711
fratched1847
jady1873
smoky1899
1899 Scribner's Mag. 25 13/2 Cow-boys often call vicious horses ‘smoky’ horses.
1923 L. J. Vance Baroque xvi. 97 Anyway, it's no good your getting smoky, because I couldn't help myself.
B. n.
1. dialect. The hedge sparrow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > non-arboreal (larks, etc.) > [noun] > family Prunellidae (accentor) > prunella modularis (hedge-sparrow)
haysuggec1000
pinnockc1275
suggec1440
dunnock1483
Philipa1500
hedge sparrow1530
titlingc1550
dikesmowler1611
hedge-chat1821
hedge-accentora1825
shuffle-wing1829
chanter1831
Isaac1834
dicky1877
smoky1889
1889 H. Saunders Man. Brit. Birds 85 The Hedge-Sparrow is known by a variety of names, such as..‘Smokie’, and ‘Shuffle-wing’.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Smokey.
2. Scottish. A smoked haddock.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > fish > cured fish > smoked fish
red herringa1399
bloat herringa1586
fumade1599
sore1600
Yarmouth capona1661
kipper1769
finnana1774
Norfolk capon1785
bukkama1805
soldier1811
bloater1832
Yarmouth bloater1832
finnie haddie1851
Californian1873
smoky1891
two-eyed steak1893
finney1906
buckling1909
lox1937
nova1964
1891 W. Gordon in D. H. Edwards Mod. Sc. Poets 14th Ser. 243 Will ye buy ony fish—Bonnie smokies, as cheap as they're clean..?
1948 R. de Kerchove Internat. Maritime Dict. 690/2 Scotch haddie (U.S.)... In Great Britain called smokie.
1965 Arbroath Guide 3 Apr. 4 The older generation argue that the old time ‘smokie’ is a haddock freshly caught by line and smoked in the Arbroath way.
1974 Sunday Tel. 23 June 15/5 Let us make the distinction between the genuine Arbroath smokie, which gets its colour from the actual smoke when the fish is cured, and the common kipper.
1976 Daily Record (Glasgow) 29 Nov. Arbroath's famous ‘smokie’ industry will be hit by the ban on catching haddock in the North Sea.
3. A smoke or smoke-blue cat.
ΚΠ
1898 Ladies' Field 6 Aug. 378/2 The two smokies, Cossy and Jetterina.
4. See Smokey Bear n.
Compounds
smoky-bearded, smoky-flavoured, smoky-tinted, smoky-voiced, smoky-winged; smoky-looking, smoky-seeming, smoky-tasting, smoky-waving.
ΚΠ
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 415 Small, smoakie-wauing cloudes.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Enfumé,..smoakie-coloured.
1612 B. Jonson Alchemist iv. vi. sig. K3v This Doctor, Your sooty, smoaky-bearded Compeere. View more context for this quotation
1612 J. Speed Theatre of Empire of Great Brit. ii. xiii. 121/1 Certaine thicke and smoky-seeming mists.
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. III. 124 The dingy, ill-smelling, smoky-looking coffee-room.
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 7/1 The smoky-flavoured Glenlivet toddy.
1862 J. D. Dana Min. 134 A smoky-tinted quartz crystal.
1925 H. Crane Let. 28 Feb. (1965) 199 Delicious smoky tasting sardines.
1973 J. J. McKelvey Man against Tsetse ii. 67 He did, however, add entomology to his accomplishments by studying the life cycle of the dark~eyed, smoky-winged tsetse that was causing nagana in Zululand.
1976 New Yorker 29 Mar. 6/3 A promising, smoky-voiced jazz and rhythm-and-blues singer.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1310