LL-L "Etymology" 2007.12.06 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  06 December 2007 - Volume 07
Song Contest: lowlands-l.net/contest/ (- 31 Dec. 2007)
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From: heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk <heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2007.12.06 (06) [E/F/LS]

Is it allowed to satrt a new etymological question under the same heading.

We have a dreadful lurgie go round at the moment: nasty head cold, sore
throat and bad cough. My daughter married to a Scot has been picking up his
way of saying things and was heard last week to remark " You've given me the
smits" i.e. you've passed the infection on to me

I had never heard this before. Apparently there's 'smittle' as well, meaning
infection. Does it have any lowland link?

Heather

just about to retire to bed with a large mug of hot damson cordial to keep
the bugs at bay!

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Heather:

Is it allowed to satrt a new etymological question under the same heading.

But of course, Heather!

You've given me the smits

The first candidate that came to my little mind is related to "smite" and
"smitten". "Smitten by the malady" perhaps?

Note: "to smite" = "to infect", "to pass on (an illness)" besides "to
strike":

Old English: *smítan* (> 'to strike')
Old Frisian: *smîta* (> *smite* 'to throw')
Middle Saxon: *smîten* (> *smieten* 'to throw')
Middle Dutch: *smiten *(*> smijten* 'to throw')*
*Old German: *smîzan* (also 'to smear', 'to smudge', 'to contaminate' > *
schmeißen* 'to throw')
Gothic:* -smeitan* (also 'to smear', 'to smudge', 'to contaminate')

Old English: *smitte* (> *smit*) 'spot', 'stain'
Middle Saxon: *smette, smitte, smit*
Middle Dutch: *smette, smitte, smit*
Middle German: *smiz* (> dial. *Schmitz*, related to *Schmutz* 'dirt')

I hope you got unsmitten by now.

Best wishes,
Reinhard/Ron

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