Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to speak (a language, words, etc.) with superficial knowledge or understanding.
2.
to dabble in.
noun
3.
slight or superficial knowledge; smattering.
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
Smatter
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
| chat, to converse |
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Danish, Norwegian smadre to splash, swash, Swedish smattra to clatter, rattle; compare Middle Low German smetern to chatter
1300–50; Middle English; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Danish, Norwegian smadre to splash, swash, Swedish smattra to clatter, rattle; compare Middle Low German smetern to chatter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To smatter
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
smatter
c.1410, "talk idly, chatter," perhaps imitative. Similar forms are found in M.H.G. smetern "to chatter" and Swed. smattra "to patter, rattle." Smatterer "one who has superficial knowledge" is attested from c.1519.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.