Also 7 smuckellor, smuckler. [ad. LG. smukkeler, Du. smokkelaar, or LG. smugg(e)ler (G. schmuggler, Sw. smugglare): see SMUGGLE v.1]
1. One who smuggles commodities; esp. one who makes a trade or practice of smuggling.
1661. Proclamation, 9 Aug. A sort of leud people called Smuckellors, never heard of before the late disordered times, who make it their trade … to steal and defraud His Majesty of His Customs.
1670. Blount, Glossogr. (ed. 3), Smuglers, are stealers of Customs; well known upon the Thames.
1740. Wesley, Wks. (1872), I. 289. He declared before us all that he was a Smuggler.
1779. Mirror, No. 62. 248. He had served with eclat in the corps established for repressing smugglers of tobacco.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VI. iii. Smugglers of salt go openly in armed bands.
1870. F. R. Wilson, Ch. Lindisf., 36. It had the reputation … of being the haunt of smugglers.
transf. 1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 134. The infectious stuff which is imported by the smugglers of adulterated metaphysics.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Europe, VIII. l. § 30. 150. An immense annual profit for the behoof of the great Imperial Smuggler in the Tuileries.
2. A vessel employed in smuggling.
1799. Naval Chron., II. 443. The Assistance Smuggler, from Guernsey.
1836. Marryat, Pirate, etc. (Rtldg.), 164. This vessel … must be a smuggler.
1894. K. Hewat, Little Scottish World, i. 12. The casks landed from the smuggler … were safely deposited.
3. attrib. and Comb., as smuggler boat, devil, dogger, -hunting.
1776. Ann. Reg., 135. His majesty’s sloop Princess Anne fell in with a smuggler dogger in the frith of Forth.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlv. Thae smuggler deevils.
1862. Thornbury, Turner, I. 333. He beat about year after year in all sorts of smuggler boats.
1899. Somerville & Ross, Irish R. M., 202. He had taken up the unprofitable task of smuggler-hunting.
