[f. SMOTHER v.] The action of the verb, in various senses.
1602. Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., 83. If any Judge … shall partially demeane himself in the smothering of that fault.
1624. Sanderson, Serm., I. 241. All vain boasting of the gifts of God … is a kind of smothering of the receipt.
1857. Toulmin Smith, Parish, 382. Any attempt to shut this out … is but a smothering of the inquiry.
b. attrib., as smothering-hole, -pan, -process.
1648. Hexham, II. Een demp-kuyl, a smothering-hole. Ibid., Een Smoor-panne, a Smoothering-pan.
1834. Brit. Husb., I. 376. The smothering process … cannot be so perfectly accomplished.
