smelling, verbal noun and & participial adjective

Origin:
From smell.
In full smelling-out.
A. verbal noun
1. In traditional African medicine: the detection of evil (by one trained to discern it by supernatural means). See also isanusi.
1857 J. Shooter Kafirs of Natal 175I could not help smiling at them, and at their solicitude to know the result of her ‘smelling.’
1867 S. Turner in D. Child Portrait of Pioneer (1980) 62It would not suit people given to fainting to be present at the smelling-out of a witch and the consequent butcher’s work afterwards.
1890 Mhlakwapalwa in Cape Law Jrnl VII. 226Although ‘smelling-out’ is not permitted by Government, we still firmly believe in the existence of witchcraft, and further that the witch-doctor or Sanuse has the power of divining those who are guilty of practising it.
1912 Ayliff & Whiteside Hist. of Abambo 79Belief in the power of witchcraft..is as strongly rooted in the minds of the people as ever; although smelling out cannot be practised as openly as formerly.
1949 J. Mockford Golden Land 106There is no appeal against the witch-doctor’s smelling out.
2. umhlahlo sense a.
1895 H. Rider Haggard Nada 60There will be a smelling out, but a smelling out of a new sort, for he and you shall be the witch-finders, and at that smelling out he will give to death all those whom he fears.
1923 G.H. Nicholls Bayete! 11We will have a grand smelling out tomorrow; the rattle of the bones — the vumisa, piff — Balumbata food for jackals.
1936 Williams & May I Am Black 43Twice he had witnessed a smelling-out by a witch-doctor.
1951 T.V. Bulpin Lost Trails of Low Veld 262Witch-doctors..use it..for signifying the victim at the end of a smelling-out.
1969 I. Vaughan Last of Sunlit Yrs 145A Vomese (smelling out) was in progress.
B. participial adjective Of or pertaining to the detection of evil, or the ceremony at which this is done.
1929 J. Stevenson-Hamilton Low-Veld 221For ‘smelling out’ purposes it is nowadays usual for witch doctors to invoke the assistance of ‘the bones’.
1937 B.J.F. Laubscher Sex, Custom & Psychopathology 62The ‘smelling out’ ceremony is still in use in the Transkei territory...The word ‘smelling’ is symbolic of bad behaviour. If a native’s ways are wrong, they say ‘he smells’, or ukunuka.
1971 Drum Feb. 4These smelling-out guys have a reputation for following their noses to the wrong directions.
1974 C.T. Binns Warrior People 33The izAngoma at all ‘smelling out’ ceremonies used to daub themselves all over with both red and white powders.
the detection of evil (by one trained to discern it by supernatural means).
Of or pertaining to the detection of evil, or the ceremony at which this is done.
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18571974

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Traditional African Religion and Culture
smell, verbv.smiley, nounn.
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