smutch
Pronounced. /smʌtʃ/ [smuhch]
-verb (used with object)
1. to smudge or soil.
–noun
2. a smudge or stain.
3. dirt, grime, or smut.
Origin: 1520–30; perhaps to smear;
probably from Middle High German smutzen to smear or soil; schmutz see smut]
How we used it: Yesterday I was walking with the family up a chalky track to the ridge known as “Pepperbox Hill”. The recent snow thaw and heavy rains had washed a lot of the silt down the track, so near the bottom of the track it was especially gooey. This smeary grey white mud is very slippery and sticky, coming off in layered clumps and clinging heavily to our boots. I instinctively called this smutch and realised what a brilliant word it is! Perfectly described the smeary, sticky, dirty and slighty gritty nature of this stuff which seemed to be now spreading itself from the boys wellies all the way up their trousers!
Smutch – could equally apply to annoying design problems… ah can’t quite get this to fit without resizing the case again – what a load of old smutch!
