Obs. Forms: 1 smiþþe, smiðþe, 1, 3 smiððe, 3 smiðe, 4 smyþþe, smyþe; 1 smeðe, 5 smeþe. [OE. smiþþe, smiððe (:*smipjōn, f. the stem of SMITH sb. or v.), = OFris. smithe, smitha, MDu. and Flem. smisse, smesse (Du. smidse), OHG. smiththa, smidda; also OFris. smitte, -a (Fris. smitte), MDu. smitte, smit, OHG. smitta, -e, -i (MHG. smitte, G. dial. schmitte), and MLG. smede (LG. smede, smê), OHG. smida (obs. G. smide, schmide, now schmiede). Some of these forms are due to the influence of the word for smith. For the Scand. forms see SMITHY sb.] = SMITHY sb. 1.
a. 900. trans. Bædas Hist., V. xv. (1890), 442. He ʓewunade in his smiðþan dæʓes & nihtæs sittan & licgan.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 64. Gað to smiððan, and fandiað þises goldes.
c. 1030. Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 23. Smeðe þær we ealle þas ðinc ʓeornlice wyrcean.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 88. Vrom mulne & from cheping from smiðe, me tiðinge bringeð.
c. 1305. St. Dunstan, 60, in E. E. P., 36. A priuei smyþþe bi his celle he gan him biseo.
fig. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 284. Al þes world is Goddes smiððe, uorte smeoðien his icorene.