- To smell out
- Smell Smell (sm[e^]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smelled}, {Smelt};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Smelling}.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen;
cf. LG. smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to
reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. {Smell}, n.]
1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell;
to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs
when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities;
to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell
perfumes.
[1913 Webster]
2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. ``I smell a device.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Can you smell him out by that? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. To give heed to. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. --Latimer. [1913 Webster]
{To smell a rat}, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.]
{To smell out}, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
