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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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SMUCHT, v., n. Also more freq. in deriv. forms smuchter, smeuchter, smughter, smoochter; smocher. [′smʌxt(ər), ′smuxtər]

I. v. 1. To smoulder, to emit thick, black smoke, to burn slowly (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 170; Mry. 1925; Bnff., Abd. 1970). Also fig.Mry. c.1890 Gregor MSS.:
If the hair of the head that comes out with the comb when cast into the fire "smoochter awa," i.e. burn slowly without almost any flame, it is a sign of death by drowning.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 107:
An' fat wis smuchterin in his hert she blew intil a flame.Abd. 1959 Scotsman (24 Jan.) 17:
Nae heat, nae colour noo Bit the yalla sharn-midden's smuchterin fire.Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 32:
Mim-moued's a corp, the nerra lanes
Lie straucht an trig, the toon's rig-banes,
Far starnies glimmer in the glaiss
Or smuchter in a plaque of braisse.

2. Of rain, snow, or the like: to fall in a fine mist, to drizzle down persistently (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 170, smeuchter; Bnff., Abd. 1970).Abd. 1954 Huntly Express (5 Feb.):
While I write frost holds and it smuchters awa'.

†3. Of persons: to be short of breath, to breathe with difficulty from a thick, stifling atmosphere, a heavy cold, etc., to feel choked; transf. of the voice: to be muffled or thick. Ppl.adj. smughterin.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 67:
A smughterin' noise I hears, o' speakin' folk.Abd. 1920 R. H. Calder Gleanings II. 13:
Smuchterin' i' the cauld.Abd. 1961 Abd. Press & Jnl. (30 Dec.):
Sae lang we've smuchtit [with heat and drought].

4. To work slowly and unskilfully, to potter (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 170, smoochter), to eat slowly and a little at a time, to nibble at food (Id.).Mry. 1954 Bulletin (9 Feb.) 4:
"Smochering" about our outside jobs in the winter light of a marginal farm.

5. To crowd, huddle together, to mill about.Abd. 1961 People's Jnl. (16 Dec.) 15:
A' smuchterin' aroon for a hug and kiss afore they're aff.

II. n. 1. Thick smoke, freq. of smoke from damp fuel or from a faulty chimney (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 170, smeuchter, smoochter; Mry. 1958, smuchter; Bnff., Abd. 1970, smucht(t)); sometimes of a slight smoke from a fire not properly alight (ne.Sc. 1970); a thick stuffy atmosphere (Bnff. 1970). Adj. smuchty, smoky, fuggy (Abd. 1970).Bnff. 1930:
There's hardly a smoke but jist a smuchter.Abd. 1949 W. R. Melvin Poems 60:
There was a good dame of Glenbuchty, Whose chimney was horribly smuchty.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick v.:
Boxt up a' that time in a wee smuchty placie like the Airk.

2. A thin light mist or rain (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 170, smeuchter, smoochter, Mry., Bnff., Abd., Kcd. 1970, smuchter). Adjs. smuchty, smoochterie, of weather: misty, steamy, close (Abd. 1970).Abd.¹⁴ 1915:
This smuchty widder's bad for the craps.Bnff. 1930:
That wis a nesty smuchter o' a shooer.Bnff. 1954 Banffshire Jnl. (20 July):
A drummlie, smoochterie mornin'.

3. A thick, choking cold, a heavy catarrh (Bnff., Abd. 1970). Cf. I. 3.Abd. 1961 People's Jnl. (16 Dec.) 15:
Haein' a bit smuchter o' a cauld.