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smeddum

British  
/ ˈsmɛdəm /

noun

  1. any fine powder

  2. spirit or mettle; vigour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of smeddum

Old English smedema fine flour


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But with a little smeddum, or spirit, Scots could be saved – and celebrated.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 4, 2010

Ye micht hae smeddum enough to say Mester Bowden, or Alexander Bowden.

From My Man Sandy by J. B. Salmond

It wasn't your father—he hasn't the smeddum of a flea—but he wouldn't send you to do what he dassn't do himself.

From Rainbow Valley by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

He'll want smeddum and manly discipline; that's the stuff to make the soldier.

From Gilian The Dreamer His Fancy, His Love and Adventure by Neil Munro

A braw doon-settin' 'twas for Jock, An' for a while it paid him, For wi's great muckle nieves like mells He pit in banes wi' smeddum.

From The Auld Doctor and other Poems and Songs in Scots by David Rorie

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