smelt

English

/ˈsmɛlt/

noun
Definitions
  • Any small anadromous fish of the family Osmeridae, found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and in lakes in North America and northern part of Europe.
  • (obsolete) A fool; a simpleton.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English smelt derived from Old English smelt inherited from Proto-Germanic *smeltaz.

Origin

Proto-Germanic

*smeltaz

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms