Forms: α. 1 smiðian, 3 smiðien, smiþien; 3 smiðie, 4 smythye, 5 -ie; 4–5 smith-, smyth-, 5 smyþ-, 7– smith. β. 1 smeoðian, 3 smeodðien, 4–6 smeth-, 5 smeþ-, smethe. [Common Teut.: OE. smiðian, smeoðian, = OFris. *smithia (WFris. smeije, EFris. smīthi, NFris. smēde, smēre), MDu. and Du. smeden, MLG. smeden (LG. smêden, smêen), OHG. smidôn (MHG. smiden, G. schmieden, † schmeden), ON. and Icel. smiða (Norw. and Sw. smida, Da. smede), Goth. gasmiþōn, f. the stem of smiþ- SMITH sb.
There is little evidence for the word from the 15th to the 19th cent., and the modern instances may be derived anew from the sb.]
1. trans. To make, construct or fashion (a weapon, iron implement, etc.) by forging; to forge or smithy.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, III. 126. He … het him smiðian on smætum golde anre culfran anlicnysse.
a. 1100. in Napier, O. E. Glosses, 14/2. Fabricata, smeoþud.
c. 1205. Lay., 1563. Wa wrðe auer þene smið þa þe mid honden smeodðede [c. 1275 smiþede].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 52. Ofte a ful hawur smið smeoðið a ful woc knif.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 576 (Ellesm.). A smyth … That in his forge smythed plough harneys.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5515. Þan made he smythis to … smethe him a chaiere.
1483. Cath. Angl., 346/1. To smethe, fabricare, cudere.
1647. Hexham, I. To Smith, smeden.
1833. Keightley, Fairy Mythol., I. 258. Sigurd took the very best sword That the Dwarfs had ever smithed.
fig. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 284. Al þes world is Goddes smiððe, uorte smeoðien his icorene.
b. To fashion articles out of (iron, etc.); to forge or hammer into an implement. rare.
c. 1340. Nominale (Skeat), 136. Homme forge fer et quiuere, Man smethuth Irun and copur.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 305. Alle þat bereth baslarde … Shal be demed to þe deth but if he do it smythye In-to sikul or to sithe.
c. To deal with by heating and hammering; to hammer or beat (a blade, etc.) on an anvil.
c. 1400. Vis. Tundale (Wagner), 1077. Hem tought, þai were not smethed [v.r. smyþyd] inowe, But throwe a fire efte hem drowe.
1831. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, I. 281. The whole [penknife blade] is then smithed, or smartly hammered after it has ceased to be soft.
1846. Holtzapffel, Turning, II. 683. The blade … is smithed or hammered, so as to make the saw quite flat.
1851–4. Tomlinson’s Cycl. Useful Arts (1867), I. 483/1. After forging, the blade is smithed, or beaten on an anvil.
2. intr. To work at the forge; to practise smith-work. Also fig.
c. 1205. Lay., 30743. Brien enne smið funde, þe wel cuðe smiðie.
a. 1300. E. E. Ps. cxxviii. 3. Ouer mi bak smithed sinful ai.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxxviii. 3. Abouen my bak synful smythid.
1893. Month, Feb., 198. Others sail-making, carpentering, smithing, &c.
Hence Smithed ppl. a.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 6. Pinnes … shalbe double headed,… wel smethed, the shanke wel shauen.
