Smutches

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. Marks or smears that are dirty or oily in appearance ; small stains or blemishes caused by touch or contact ; imperceptible spots or patches resulting from dirt or grease
2. Areas of dirtiness or smears left on surfaces or materials ; faint discolorations or blotches that mar cleanliness ; minor oily or soiled spots on objects or fabrics
3. Tiny dirty marks or streaks caused by handling or contact ; slight smudges or imperfections on a clean surface ; small greasy or dirty stains that affect the appearance

Etymology: "Smutches" is the third-person singular present form of the verb "smutch," so it reads as "smutch" in action: a person smutches a surface, or something smutches a face or hand. The verb itself is thought to be an alteration of "smudge," "smatch," or "smooch," with the exact source left uncertain. Each candidate points in a similar direction, toward a blurred mark left by touch, which fits the meanings the word carries today. Those meanings cluster around three ideas: a dirty or oily mark, a small stain left by contact, and an almost invisible patch of grime or grease. The "smutch" word family is closely tied to soot and dirt, and the English "smut" for a speck of soot or dirt sits in the same neighborhood, though the connection is not fully settled. The term survives mostly in descriptions of hands, faces, and fabric.

Synonyms: smudges, stains, smears, marks, blots

Antonyms: cleans, wipes, clears, polishes, purifies