mid-15c. (implied in smelter), from Dutch or Low German smelten, from Proto-Germanic *smelt- (cognates: Old High German smelzan, German schmelzen "to melt"), from PIE *smeld-, variant of *mel- "soft." Thus the word is from a variant of the stem of Old English meltan "to melt" (see melt (v.)). Related: Smelted; smelting.
smelt (n.)
Old English smelt "sardine, small salmon-like sea fish," cognate with Dutch smelt "sand eel," Danish smelt (c. 1600). OED notes that it has a peculiar odor (but doesn't suggest a connection with smell); Klein suggests a connection with the way the fish melts in one's mouth. Century Dictionary speculates it means "smooth" and compares Old English smeolt, smylt "serene, smooth."
例文
1. The railway station smelt powerfully of cats and drains.
駅には鼻を突く猫の匂いと臭い溝の匂いがします。
2.He smelt the reek of whisky.
彼はウイスキーの味がします。
3.Somehow the place even smelt wonderfully nostalgic.
なぜか、この場所はレトロな雰囲気が漂っている。
4.The still air smelt faintly of furniture polish.