Also -smach, -smich, corruptly -smick, -smickle. [f. STONE sb. + SMATCH sb.2 Cf. G. steinschmätzer.] A name for the STONECHAT (also applied to the wheat-ear).

1

1668.  Wilkins, Real Char., 151. Living … upon stony places or open Heaths … Stone Smich.

2

c. 1672.  Willughby, Ornith., II. xv. § 3 (1676), 169. Oenanthe nostra tertia: Muscicapa tertia Aldrov…. The Moor-Titling: The Stone-smich or Stone-chatter.

3

1709.  J. Lawson, Hist. Carolina, 146. The Snow-Birds are most numerous in the North Parts of Ainerica…. They are like the Stones Smach, or Wheat-Ears.

4

1736.  Ainsworth, Stonesmickle (bird), Muscinapa.

5

1790.  Grose, Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2), Suppl., Stone-chat or Stone-smatch, the bird called in the south a wheat-ear.

6

1797.  [see STONECHAT].

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