- smarm
- smarm (n.) 1914, from colloquial verb smalm, smarm “to smear, bedaub" (the hair, with pomade), 1847, of unknown origin. Verbal meaning “to smear with flattery” is from 1902.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
smarm
Look at other dictionaries:
smarm — smarm; smarm·i·ly; smarm·i·ness; … English syllables
smarm|y — «SMAHR mee», adjective, smarm|i|er, smarm|i|est. Informal. offensively flattering or ingratiating: »a smarmy smugness … Useful english dictionary
smarm — [smärm] n. Informal 1. a smarmy thing or quality 2. smarmy behavior, words, etc. collectively … English World dictionary
smarm — informal ► VERB 1) chiefly Brit. behave in an ingratiating way. 2) smooth down (one s hair), especially with oil or gel. ► NOUN ▪ ingratiating behaviour. ORIGIN of unknown origin … English terms dictionary
smarm — The ring of brown, smelly, sweaty stain that appears around the inside of a well worn baseball cap. You should wash that hat, it s full of smarm. OR The smarm on my hat is hard and crusty … Dictionary of american slang
smarm — The ring of brown, smelly, sweaty stain that appears around the inside of a well worn baseball cap. You should wash that hat, it s full of smarm. OR The smarm on my hat is hard and crusty … Dictionary of american slang
smarm — /smam/ (say smahm) Colloquial –verb (i) 1. to fawn ingratiatingly; be servile. –verb (t) 2. to fawn over ingratiatingly; flatter. –noun 3. flattery; unctuousness; fulsomeness. {British dialect smarm, variant of smalm; origin uncertain} …
smarm — noun Etymology: back formation from smarmy Date: 1937 smarmy language or behavior … New Collegiate Dictionary
smarm — /smahrm/, n. behavior or speech that is smarmy. [1935 40; back formation from SMARMY] * * * … Universalium
smarm — 1. noun smarmy language or behavior 2. verb a) To fawn, to be unctuous. He rose ... on his wifes fortune and judicious smarming of powerful people … Wiktionary
