smudge
/smʌd͡ʒ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.81 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A heap of damp combustibles partially ignited and burning slowly, placed on the windward side of a house, tent, etc. to keep off mosquitoes or other insects.
American usage; Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "There was a smudge on the paper."
- "Then "smudges" are in vogue,—heaps of damp combustibles placed on the windward side of the house and partially ignited, that their inky steams may smother the mosquitoes while we take our chance. I have had a "smudge" made in a chafing-dish at my bedside, after a serious deliberation between choking and being devoured at small mouthfuls; and I conscientiously recommend choking, or running the risk of it, at least."
- "We had taken about ten pounds of trout; and the first procedure, after reaching the camp, was to build a smudge or smoke-fire, to drive away these abominable gnats, who, fortunately, take flight with the first whiff of smoke."
- "The use of smoke (or "smudges") against the attack of the mosquito is well understood in America and elsewhere."
- "Devil's dirt or asafetida ground together with fenugreek and black cumin seed is used as a smudge against witches and […]"
- "This is easily done using incense to smudge yourself or taking a cleansing bath. To smudge your body use an incense mixture such as sandalwood, lavender, frankincense or myrrh."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *smogen
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /smʌd͡ʒ/
- British English: /smʌd͡ʒ/
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- American usage
- Intransitive verb
- Transitive verb
- Australian usage
- British usage