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SMITH , a worker in metals . The O . Eng. smid, Du. smid, Ger . Schmied, &c., are from an obsolete Teut. verb smeithan, to forge . The See also: root is seen in Gr. o sLXtl, a graver's tool
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It is apparently not connected with " smooth," where an See also: original in has been lost
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There is no foundation for the old etymological guess which identifies " smith " with " to smite, " as the one who smites or beats iron
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When used without such qualification as appears in " goldsmith," " silversmith," &c., the See also: term means a worker in iron, especially as indicating a " blacksmith," one who forges iron, as opposed to " whitesmith," the finisher and polisher of iron, or " tinsmith," a worker in tin
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The word has originated one of the commonest of See also: English surnames, sometimes taking various archaic forms (See also: Smyth, Smythe, Smigth, &c.; also See also: German See also: Schmidt)
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