Middle English Dictionary Entry
smelt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | smelt n. Also smelte, smelth, (in surname) smult; pl. smeltes, smelte. |
| Etymology | OE smelt, smylt. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. smolt n.(1).
1.
(a) A small or young fish, prob. the smelt (Osmerus eperlanus); -- also coll.; ~ fried, a batch of this fish, fried; ~ net, a net for catching small fish; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (1312-13) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.555 : De Thoma le Norice quia emit smeltes..et alios pisces aque rescentis, [etc.].
- ?a1325 Liber Cust.Lond.in RS 12.2116 : Ceo est a savoir, les graunt reies qe pernent smelt envers le Est del Pount de Loundres.
- (1328-9) *Acc.Exch.K.R.Mem.m.125 [OD col.] : Quoad capcionem piscis qui vocatur smelt.
- (1384-5) Let.Bk.Lond.H (Gldh LetBk H)255 : [John Chipstede, bailiff..brought before..the Mayor..eight nets called] smelt net [of unlawful mesh].
- c1400 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Hrl 490:Koch)p.72 : Smelt.
- (a1422) Doc.St.Alb.in RS 28.5 pt.2 (Cld E.4)317 : Item, centum smelte, vel centum sparlynges, vel centum welkes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)460 : Smelte [Win: Smelth], fysche.
- c1450 Brut-1431(1) (Eg 650)447/20 : The seruyce of the secund course..Roget broyled, Smelt ffryed.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)141 : Samon fresche..roget boylyde, smelte fryde.
- a1485 *Hrl.1735 Cook.Recipes (Hrl 1735)114 (f.17r) : Tak laimpreys & laimpronws & elys & dares & roches & loches, smeltys, and other maner of freysch fysche.
- 1703(?1358) Acc.Bk.Oxf.in EHR 24742 : Item, in smelt ij d.
b
- (1256) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.88106 : Thomam Smelt.
- (1275) in Sundby Dial.Wor.116 : Henr. Smult.
- (c1275) Hundred R.Tower 1504 : Willelmus Smelte.
- (1286) Case Law Merchant in Seld.Soc.23p.xlviii : Elena Smeltysmouht.
- (1312) Pat.R.Edw.II475 : Richard Smelt.
- (1327) in Sundby Dial.Wor.116 : Joh. Smult.