smith English · revision 2829

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf|origins=gem-pro *smiþaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /smɪθ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|smith]],^(Etymonline) [[inh|ang|smiþ|alt=smið|t=one who works in metal; a craftsman]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*smiþaz|alt=*smithaz|t=skilled worker]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from a suffixed form of [[ine-pro|*smi-|t=to cut, work with a sharp instrument]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) which is also the source of Greek smílē “chisel, carving knife”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is cognate with Old Frisian and Old Saxon smith, Dutch smid, German Schmied, Old Norse smiðr and Gothic -smiþa, in aizasmiþa “coppersmith”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is Old English smiþian, from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English, about 725 in ''Beowulf'', of one who makes or shapes things out of metal.^(Barnhart 1988) Old English smið meant a blacksmith or armorer, and also jewelers, and more broadly any skilled manual worker, including carpenters.^(Etymonline) The original sense was probably “craftsman”.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a surname, now the most common in English, it is attested by about 975.^(Etymonline) A Middle English psalter even called God a smith, when he created light.^(Etymonline) The narrower sense, a worker in iron, especially a blacksmith or farrier, became the usual one.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) From the 16th century it was used in combinations such as ''smith's coal'' and ''smith's work'',^(OED 1989) and it is now often the second part of compounds naming a maker, as in ''goldsmith'', ''gunsmith'' and the playful ''wordsmith'' and ''tunesmith''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) ''Smithy'', a forge, is from before 1250, in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English smið.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 975 – as a surname.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1000 – verb, to forge.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1250 – ''smithy''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1578 – ''smith's coal'', ''smith's work''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A worker in metal, especially one who shapes it when hot; a [[blacksmith]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In compounds, a maker of something: [[goldsmith]], ''wordsmith''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or shape metal by [[forge|alt=forging]].^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[arrowsmith]]

+ * [[blacksmith]]

+ * [[coppersmith]]

+ * [[goldsmith]]

+ * [[gunsmith]]

+ * [[hammersmith]]

+ * [[ironsmith]]

+ * [[locksmith]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[smithery]]

+ * [[smithy]]

+ * [[silversmith]]

+ * [[wordsmith]]

+ * [[Smith]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Other surnames meaning “smith” include Italian Ferraro, Arabic Haddad, Hungarian Kovács, Polish Kowalski, Spanish Herrero, Russian Kuznets and Irish MacGowan.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}