smartling en · NOUN · etymology 1
Etymology
From smart + -ling.
Meanings
-
One who is smart, shrewd, or clever; a smart-aleck.
He determined that he would not hold up his honest admiration of his friend for the amusement of these smartlings.
1903, William Rheem Lighton, The ultimate moment:The serious illness of Archbishop Corrigan of the New York Catholic diocese, has led a lot of newspaper smartlings to predict, with apparent mournfulness, that he might recover but for his "advanced age."
1902, James Hoyt, Seen & heard by Megargee - Volume 2, Part 2 - Page 565:And Smartlings think it Wit to play the Fool, [...]
1738, Stephen Duck, Poems on several occasions:And smartlings think it witty to blaspheme [...]
1773, The Gentleman's magazine, volume 3, page 262:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| smartlings | Number=Plur | lexicographic |