smoot

smoot · noun¹

Derives from the height of Oliver R. Smoot, who had lain on the Harvard Bridge to measure it as a fraternity prank at MIT.

smoot · noun²

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*smēhaz“small, narrow”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*smēhtǭ“narrow path”
3. Old Norse · derived fromsmátta“narrow passageway, gap”
4. Middle English · inherited from*smote
5. English todaysmoot

From Middle English *smote, *smotte, from Old Norse smátta (“narrow passageway, gap”), from Proto-Germanic *smēhtǭ (“narrow path”), from Proto-Germanic *smēhaz (“small, narrow”).

Smoot · proper noun³

Likely from the Dutch smout, someone who sold or worked with animal fat.