smeddum

British  

/ ˈsmɛdəm /

noun

1. any fine powder

2. spirit or mettle; vigour

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Etymology

Origin of smeddum

Old English smedema fine flour

Example Sentences

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

From The Guardian • Jun. 4, 2010

They were baith bred to mainers by the beuk, and onie ane o’ them had as muckle smeddum and rumblegumtion as the half o’ some presbytries that you and I baith ken.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

Some years before, I had noted among the callans at Mr Lorimore's school a long soople laddie, who, like all bairns that grow fast and tall, had but little smeddum.

From The Annals of the Parish; or, the chronicle of Dalmailing during the ministry of the Rev. Micah Balwhidder by Galt, John

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 Rorie, David

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 Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud)