= lively, witty, pert (B. E.): e.g., a smart (= clever) book; a smart (= ready) reply; A smart (= bright) saying; a smart (= sparkling) speech; a smart (= brisk) lad, &c. 2. = well-dressed, fashionable, brilliant: e.g., a smart (= elegant and modish) frock; a smart (= attractive and amusing) show; smart (= fashionable) society: hence smart, subs. = (1) a dandy (old), and (2) one in advance of the prevailing standard of good taste. 3. = quick, expert, shrewd: e.g., a smart (= precocious) child; a smart (= clever) workman; a smart (= enterprising) tradesman; a smart (= capable, active and neat) soldier, sailor, hand, &c. 4 (American) = clever, knavish, and unscrupulous. 5 (prov.) = cold: e.g., a smart (= biting) morning. 6 (colloquial) = uncommon: e.g., smart (= hard) going; smart (= resolute and lively) hitting; smart (= capable) work. As adv. = very, large, considerable, vigorously: with such derivatives and combinations as smarty (subs.), smartness (subs.), and smartish (adj.).
[?]. M.S. Cantab., Ff. ii. 38, f. 131 [Halliwell]. The swynehorde toke out a knyfe smert. Ibid., Ff. v. 48, f. 110. Smertly then she callis a knave.
1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, 'Gen. Prol.' 149. If men smot it with a yerde smerte.
[?]. Book of Precedence [E. E. T. S], i. 50. When thi seruantes haue do ther werke, To pay ther hyre loke thou be smerte.
1641. Milton, Def. of Humb. Remonstr., Pref. A voluble and smart fluence of tongue.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, Wiltshire, iii. 335. Thomas of Wilton wrote also a smart Book on this subject.
d.1699. Stillingfleet, Sermons, iii. vii. These few words . . . contain a smart and serious expostulation.
d.1701. Dryden, Works [Century]. After show'rs The stars shine smarter.
c.1704. Gentleman Instructed, 470. 'Sirrah,' says the youngster, 'make me a smart wig, a smart one, ye dog!' The fellow blessed himself: he had heard of a smart nag, a smart man, &c., but a smart wig was Chinese to the tradesman. . . . Within two days he had a smart wig with a smart price in the box. The truth is, he had been bred up with the groom, and translated the stable dialect into the dressing room.
d.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 123. I was a smart child, and a smock-fac'd youth.
1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, v. 2. There's no need to be so smart upon him . . . If he's not a gentleman, he's a gentleman's fellow.
1708-10. Swift, Pol. Conv., Intro. So great a number of smart turns of wit and humour as I have produced.
1715. Addison, Drummer, iii. 1. Thou'st very smart my dear. But see! Smoke the doctor.
1739. Townley, High Life Below Stairs, ii. The gay sparkling Belle who the whole town alarms, And with eyes, lips, and neck, sets the smarts all in arms.
1740. Richardson, Pamela, i. 51. I bought . . . two pairs of ordinary blue worsted hose that made a smartish appearance with white clocks. Ibid. (1753), Grandison, iv. 292. Our cousin is looked upon amongst his brother libertines and smarts as a man of first consideration.
1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, ii. iv. All the smarts . . . were eclipsed in a moment. Ibid., iii. iii. I resolved to quit all further conversation with beaux and smarts of every kind.
1753. Adventurer, 100. The scale consists of eight: Greenhorn, Jemmy, Jessamy, Smart, Honest Fellow, Joyous Spirit, Buck, and Blood.
1785. Cowper, Task, iv. 468. And sighs for the smart comrades he has left.
c.1812. Maher, The Night Before Larry was Stretched. He fetched a smart blow at his head.
1811. Austen, Sense and Sensibility, xix. I always preferred the church . . . but that was not smart enough for my family. They recommended the army, but that was a great deal too smart for me.
1826. Croker [Croker Papers, i. 331]. Where there was a smart young waiter, whom, however, these two Englishmen used to row exceedingly.
