Smire

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Fine, drizzly rain falling in a light mist ; an archaic verb meaning to smear something with a greasy or sticky substance
2. A fine misty drizzle of rain, common in northern and Scottish dialects ; to daub or spread a sticky, dirtying substance over a surface, now obsolete
3. Very light, fine rain that falls like mist ; an old-fashioned verb for coating or dirtying something by smearing it with grime or grease

Etymology: English "smear" comes from Old English "smeoru," meaning fat, grease, or ointment. Dutch "smeer" and German "Schmer," meaning fat or lard, are close relatives, which shows the word was tied to greasy substances from the start. "Smire" shows up in English dialect and in Scots "smirr" for a fine, soft rain. Its connection to the greasy sense is likely, since a light drizzle can leave a thin, dull film on surfaces, but the exact path of that shift is uncertain.