smutch

American  

[smuhch] / smʌtʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to smudge or soil.

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noun

1. a smudge or stain.

2. dirt, grime, or smut.

smutch British  

/ smʌtʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to smudge; mark

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noun

1. a mark; smudge

2. soot; dirt

Other Word Forms

• smutchless adjective
• smutchy adjective
• unsmutched adjective

Etymology

Origin of smutch

1520–30; perhaps < Middle High German smutzen to smear; compare German Schmutz smut

Example Sentences

She hadn’t done anything to me, and the smutch of the mud against her blue gown — the prettiest dress I ever saw.

From "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village" by Laura Amy Schlitz

I took the glass from him and, examining it with the utmost care, I detected a smutch of yellowish paint upon it, nothing more.

From The Darrow Enigma by Severy, Melvin Linwood

This love is not so hard to smutch.

From The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems by Morris, William

"You can't smutch the character of Daviess," said Wood.

From A Dream of Empire Or, The House of Blennerhassett by Venable, William Henry

They’ve put the body in here, it seems to me, for there’s a tiny smutch just against the edge.

From Blind Policy by Fenn, George Manville