Dictionary

smake en · VERB · etymology 1

Etymology

From dialectal smak, early modern English smake, from Middle English smaken (“to taste, sense flavour, detect by taste or smell”), from Middle Dutch smaken (“to taste”).

Meanings

1. Synonym of smack (“to taste, lick”).
   • Now, that's good," smaking his lips in a pleased way. 1893, Margaret Sidney, Five little Peppers Midway:
   • Even Bill Bitters could not find it in his heart to say a word against this moisture, and he actually smaked his lips, although he turned away lest someone should see him do it. 1882, Bricktop, The trip of the Sardine Club:
   • He smaked his lips in anticipation of the coming treat. 1918, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (U.S.), Locomotive engineers journal
   • It is not a nice place to look at, rough you know,” he smiled, and his right eye winked at Frayne: “But the corned beef and cabbage, and the waffles. Mm!” He smaked his lips with desire. 1922, Lucy Fox Robins Lang, Mrs. Lucy Robins, War Shadows:

Forms

Synonyms

smack

smake en · NOUN · etymology 2

Meanings

1. (alt-of, obsolete) Obsolete form of smack.
   alt of smack
   • One of the great ſources of this evil was, that if a man had beeen^([sic]) trained up at the feet of Gamaliel for a few years, and got a ſmake of the learning then in vogue, it was enough in their opinion to qualify him for being a builder in the houſe of God […] 1733, Ebenezer Erſkine, The Stone Rejected by the Builders […] :
   • A smake there is in other things, but small purpose. 1856, Edward Augustus Bond, Giles Fletcher, Sir Jerome Horsey, Russia at the close of the sixteenth century:

Forms