smitham

S1M3I1T1H4A1M3

noun

Small lumps of ore which free miners scavenged because small quantities were exempt from payment of taxes. The practice ended in 1760 when the Duke of Devonshire challenged the tax exemption.

Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounsmitham (uncountable)
  1. UKobsoleteuncountableSmall lumps of ore which free miners scavenged because small quantities were exempt from payment of taxes. The practice ended in 1760 when the Duke of Devonshire challenged the tax exemption.

Origin

Perhaps compare English smeddum (“fine powder, lump ore, etc.”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

smitham. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smitham

MLA

“smitham.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smitham. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “smitham,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smitham.

Source: smitham on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.