Smellies

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. In informal usage, this term refers to unpleasant odors emanating from a person or object
2. It can denote the unsanitary or unclean state that creates an offensive scent
3. The word is often used humorously to describe people who emit noticeable body odor or have poorly-kept belongings

Etymology: "Smellies" is the plural of "smelly", which is the regular adjective built from "smell" plus the suffix "-y". The verb "smell" traces back to Old English "smiellan", and the "-y" ending came into English from Old English "-ig", meaning "full of" or "having the quality of". So a smelly thing is one full of smell, and the plural "smellies" simply applies that label to several people or things at once. The most surprising part of the story is the reference the word carries. Its etymology includes a comical pronunciation of the initials SMLE, which stands for "Short Magazine Lee-Enfield", the rifle used by British and Commonwealth forces. Soldiers often rhymed the letters with "smelly", giving the word a playful military ring.