Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Smelt?

\Smelt\, imp. & p. p. of {Smell}.
\Smelt\, n. [AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small silvery salmonoid fishes of the genus {Osmerus} and allied genera, which ascend rivers to spawn, and sometimes become landlocked in lakes. They are esteemed as food, and have a peculiar odor and taste. Note: The most important species are the European smelt ({Osmerus eperlans}) (called also {eperlan}, {sparling}, and {spirling}), the Eastern American smelt ({O. mordax}), the California smelt ({O. thalichthys}), and the surf smelt ({Hypomesus olidus}). The name is loosely applied to various other small fishes, as the lant, the California tomcod, the spawn eater, the silverside. 2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl. {Sand smelt} (Zo["o]l.), the silverside.
\Smelt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smelted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Smelting}.] [Of foreign origin; cf. Sw. sm["a]lta, D. smelten, Dan. smelte, Icel. smelta, G. schmelzen OHG. smelzan, smelzen; probably akin to Gr. ?????. Cf. {Enamel}, {Melt}, {Mute}, v. i., {Smalt}.] (Metal.) To melt or fuse, as, ore, for the purpose of separating and refining the metal; hence, to reduce; to refine; to flux or scorify; as, to smelt tin.