smouch, noun

Forms:
Also smoutch.
Origin:
English, DutchShow more Special sense of obsolete general English smouch (adaptation of Dutch smous) a derogatory word for a Jew (many itinerant traders having been Jewish).
obs.
smous noun.
1839 W.C. Harris Wild Sports 63Traders, or smouches, as they are called by the colonists, constantly visit Latakoo and its neighbourhood.
1849 E.D.H.E. Napier Excursions in Sn Afr. II. 391I dare say..you have heard that I have turned a regular ‘smoutch,’ the Colonial term for trader.
1863 T. Shone Diary. 14 Oct.Mr & Mrs Crout, Smouch, Stopt all night. I bought from them 2 Shirts paid 7/- for them.
1867 T. Shone Diary. 19 Aug.Bought from a Smouch, a box of wax Matches, a Quire foolscap paper.
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