Smelt

imp. & p. p. of smell. See SMELL.

n. [A-S. smelt, smylt, Dan. smelt.] (Ichth.) A small fish (Osmerus eperlanus), allied to the salmon. It is of a silvery white color, and is highly esteemed as delicate food. It emits a peculiar odor, whence the name;—called also spirling.

☞ The sand-smelt is the same as the ATHERINE.

A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.]

Talk what you will, this is a very smelt. Beau. & Fl.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SMELTED; p. pr. & vb. n. SMELTING.] [D. smelten, Dan. smelte, Icel. smelta, Sw. smälta, L. Ger. smulten, O. H. Ger. smelzan, N. H. Ger. schmelzen. Cf. MELT.] To melt or fuse, as ore, for the purpose of separating the metal from extraneous substances.