smoky

comparative smokier · superlative smokiest · alternative obsolete smoakie · alternative obsolete smoaky · alternative smokey

1. Filled with smoke.

   a smoky cabin

   4 more examples

   Some ſate turning of ſpittes; and the place being all ſmoakie, made me thinke on hell, foꝛ the ioynts of meate lay as if they had béene bꝛoyling in the infernall fire, […]

   1608, [Thomas Dekker], “Discouering the Most Notable Villanies Now in the Kingdome”, in The Belman of London. […], London: […] [Edward Allde and Nicholas Okes] for Nathaniel Butter, →OCLC, signature B3, verso

   [W]e […] never had better fires in England, then in the dry, ſmoaky houſes of Kecoughtan: […]

   1624, Richard Pots; William Tankard; G. P.; William Simons, compiler, “Chap. VIII. Captaine Smiths Iourney to Pamavnkee.”, in Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, 3rd booke, page 74

   [E]ven the ſmoky air of one of the moſt ſmoky ſtreets of the ſuburbs is chearful, and ſalubrious, to the oppreſſion I felt in the chamber we have juſt left.

   1775 June, [Samuel Jackson Pratt#&93;, “A Moral Excursion through London, Containing Pathetic Incidents. […]”, in The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure […], volume LVI, number CCCXCII, London: […] John Hinton […], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 315, column 2

   Hell is a city much like London— / A populous and a smoky city; […]

   1819, Miching Mallecho [pseudonym; Percy Bysshe Shelley], “Peter Bell the Third”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […], new edition, London: Edward Moxon […], published 1840, →OCLC, part the third (Hell), stanza 1, page 240, column 1

   1. Filled with or enveloped in tobacco smoke.

      a smoky bar

      3 more examples

      “Say, little coon, let’s see you hit a step for the boys![…]” “I can’t,” Sandy said, frowning instead of smiling, and growing warm as he stood there in the smoky circle of grinning white men. “I don’t know how to dance.”

      1930, Langston Hughes, “Hey, Boy!”, in Not Without Laughter, New York, N.Y.; London: Alfred A. Knopf, →OCLC, page 229

      In the evenings he argued the toss at smoky meetings in pubs and school halls.

      1974, John le Carré, chapter 17, in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, London: Pan Books, published 1975, →ISBN, part 2, page 134

      It was exactly the sort of line that brought screeches of laughter on Workers’ Playtime or Midday Music-hall. It was exactly the smoky, faded smuttiness he wanted to put behind him.

      1998, Derek Beaven, chapter 12, in Acts of Mutiny, London: Fourth Estate, →ISBN, part 1 (Motion), page 46

2. Giving off smoke.

   a smoky oil lamp

   3 more examples

   [I]s it I, That driue thee from the ſportiue Court, where thou Was’t ſhot at with faire eyes, to be the marke Of ſmoakie Muskets?

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 242, column 1

   Our knowledge is a torch of smoky pine That lights the pathway but one step ahead Across a void of mystery and dread.

   1894, George Santayana, “[Sonnets] III”, in Sonnets and Other Verses, Cambridge, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.: Stone and Kimball, →OCLC, page 5

   The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania. […] It was used to make kerosene, the main fuel for artificial lighting after overfishing led to a shortage of whale blubber. Other liquids produced in the refining process, too unstable or smoky for lamplight, were burned or dumped.

   2013 August 3, “Yesterday’s fuel”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 01 Aug 2013

3. Of a colour or colour pattern similar to that of smoke.

   The Piſmire kinde of Aetius hath a ſmoky body, an aſh-coloured neck, and the back as it were adorned with ſtars.

   1658, Tho. Mouffet [i.e., Thomas Muffet, et al.], “The Theater of Insects: Or, Lesser Living Creatures. […]. Chapter XII. Of Spiders That Are Hurtful, or Phalangia.”, in J[ohn] R[owland], transl., The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents: […], revised edition, London: […] E. Cotes, for G[eorge] Sawbridge […], T. Williams […], and T. Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 1059

   3 more examples

   [T]he broken walls and roofs were diſtinguiſhable even at that diſtance, and ſometimes a part, which had been repaired, contraſted its colour with the black and ſmoky hues of the remainder.

   1795, Ann Radcliffe, “Mentz”, in A Journey Made in the Summer of 1794, through Holland and the Western Frontier of Germany, […], London: […] G[eorge,] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, […], →OCLC, page 179

   There is more clear gold and scarlet in our old country mornings; more purple, brown, and smoky orange in those of the new.

   1879, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Across the Plains: Leaves from the Notebook of an Emigrant between New York and San Francisco”, in Across the Plains: With Other Memories and Essays, London: Chatto & Windus, […], published 1892, →OCLC, page 9

   The saleswomen, with their all-black ensembles and smoky eyelids, were as open and affirming as the sight of RuPaul's spread legs in the Viva Glam lipstick ads.

   2014, Janet Mock, chapter 10, in Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, New York, N.Y.: Atria Books, →ISBN, page 133

4. Having a flavour or odour like smoke; flavoured with smoke.

   a smoky whisky

   3 more examples

   [T]hei abstain frō a smo¦ky peace of Bacon or hard salted and poudred biefe or suche lyke, […]

   [1551?], Thomas Becon, chapter IX, in A Fruitful Treatise of Fasting, […], London: […] Ihon Day, […], →OCLC; republished in Early English Books Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Text Creation Partnership, p. 2011, archived from the original on 09 Jul 2024

   [S]ome Dutch officers complained that the ſoup was ſmoaky, and the beef was tough, we adventurers declared that we never had taſted a more delicious repaſt; […]

   1796, J[ohn] G[abriel] Stedman, chapter XXX, in Narrative of a Five Years’ Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana, on the Wild Coast of South America; […], volume II, London: J[oseph] Johnson, […], and J. Edwards, […], →OCLC, page 392

   I smelled it the moment I entered—that sweet smoky reek.

   1990, Michael Cunningham, “Alice”, in A Home at the End of the World, New York, N.Y.: Farrar Straus Giroux, →ISBN, part, page 84

5. Resembling or composed of smoke.

   He [the bull] had horns galore, a coat of gold and a sweet smoky breath coming out of his nostrils […]

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 14: Oxen of the Sun]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 381

   3 more examples

   And let thy muſtie vapours march ſo thicke, That in their ſmoakie rankes, his ſmothred light May ſet at noone, and make perpetuall night.

   1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC, signature F3, verso

   […] I too gave notice to the various wild inhabitants of Walden vale, by a smoky streamer from my chimney, that I was awake.

   1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “House-Warming”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 271

   And now the sky was a bright sea sown with islands; they shrank and crumbled and drifted away, islands no more, but a multitude of plumes and flakes and smoky wreaths hastily scudding, for the sun had lifted his tranquil eye on the heavens; […]

   1914, James Stephens, chapter XXXIV, in The Demi-Gods, London: Macmillan & Co., […], →OCLC, book IV (Mary Mac Cann), page 293

   Synonyms: fumid, fumous

6. Blackened by smoke.

   The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling; […]

   1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, “Mr. Badger”, in The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 72

   2 more examples

   Shepheard I take thy word, And truſt thy honeſt offer’d courteſie, Which oft is ſooner found in lowly ſheds With ſmoakie rafters, then in tapſtrie halls, And courts of Princes, […]

   Comus

   1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC, page 12

   The room smelt close and unwholesome, the walls were dirt-discoloured, and the ceiling blackened. There was an old smoky bust over the mantel-shelf, and a dusty clock above the dock—[…]

   1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “Wherein Is Shown How the Artful Dodger Got into Trouble”, in Oliver Twist; […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 130

7. Addicted to or associated with the smoking of tobacco.

   I am going to leave off tobacco, and then we must thrive. A smoky man must write smoky farces.

   1806, Charles Lamb, “Dramatic Authorship and Dramatic Criticism. [1800–1809.]”, in letter to William Hazlitt; quoted in Alfred Ainger, Charles Lamb (English Men of Letters; 21), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], 1882, →OCLC, page 64

   3 more examples

   [T]o make amends ſince, he hath kneaded and daub’d up a commedie, called The Transformation of the King of Trinidadoes two Daughters, Madame Panachea and the Nymphe Tobacco: And to approue his Heraldrie, ſcutchend out the honorable Armes of the ſmoakie ſocietie.

   1596, Tho[mas] Nashe, “Dialogus”, in Haue with You to Saffron-Walden. Or, Gabriell Harveys Hunt is Up. […], London: […] John Danter, →OCLC; republished as J[ohn] P[ayne] C[ollier], editor, Have with You to Saffron-Walden (Miscellaneous Tracts; Temp. Eliz. and Jac. I), [London: s.n., 1870], →OCLC, page 118

   Once, this diſcovery of land ſo rauiſhed his ſpirit, by the inexpected deliuery from danger, as eaſily carried his impotent thoughts into a double error, the one in placing earthly Paradiſe in this Iland, (to which opinion, for the excellencie of the Tabacco there found, he ſhould happily haue the ſmokie ſubſcriptions of many humoriſts, to whom that fume becomes a fooles Paradiſe, which with their braines, and all, paſſeth away in ſmoke) […]

   1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Relations of the Discoveries, Regions, and Religions, of the New World.] Of Paris, Guiana, and the Neighbour Countries, Both on the Coast, and within the Land.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book IX (Of Cumana, Guiana, Brasil, Chica, Chili, Peru, and Other Regions of America Peruviana, and of Their Religions), page 698

   The admiration of athletic prowess does not make the admirers hardy, prompt, and clean of life, as witness the sodden and smokey young men who may be found watching football matches.

   1893 December 26, “Athletic Life”, in The Daily News, number 14,894, London: […] Thomas Britton, […], →OCLC, page 5, column 1

8. Of a person’s voice: having a deep, raspy quality, often as a result of smoking tobacco.

   Father laughed his smoky laugh. […] The smoky laughter like a bridge between them over your head.

   1973, Patrick White, chapter 10, in The Eye of the Storm, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, published 1974, →OCLC, pages 491–492

   1 more example

   “Stop the York four-day stage!” said he, forcing his smoky voice through a world of throat-embracing shawl; […]

   1834, William Harrison Ainsworth, chapter V, in Rookwood: A Romance, volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 298

9. Attractive in a sensual way; sultry.

   There was still that smoky little thing about her. The sexy swaying walk, the dark voice.

   1988, Don DeLillo, “20 May”, in Libra, Viking, →ISBN, part 1, page 124

   1 more example

   Frankly I don’t think his smoky Armenian looks drew their attention so much as the languid elegance of his manner, […]

   2003, Lionel Shriver, “March 3, 2001”, in We Need to Talk About Kevin, New York, N.Y.: Counterpoint, page 272

10. entertainmentHaving a dark, thick, bass sound.

    a few smoky jazz notes

    4 more examples

    [T]he sombre and magnificent [Miles] Davis fronts both his Quartet and Gil Evans’s orchestra, pouring out a succession of smoky and sonorous solos […]

    1962 October 17, Philip Larkin, “Jazz: Holiday in Spring and Summer”, in The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post, 4 a.m. edition, number 33434, London; Manchester: […] The Daily Telegraph Limited, […], →OCLC, page 12, column 5

    The organ took on a dark, smoky sonority at evening service, and there was no doubt that the organ was adapting its normal sounds to accompany God’s own sepulchral responses, […] to those prayers that were offered to him.

    1981, Wole Soyinka, chapter I, in Aké: The Years of Childhood (The Vintage Library of Contemporary World Literature), New York, N.Y.: Aventura Books, published 1983, →ISBN, page 1

    [T]here emerged from the car a pair of the sort of legs which sound-track editors are unable to see without needing to slap a smoky saxophone solo all over, […]

    1988 October 10, Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 120

    Then, just as the music, slow and smoky, loads up the air, his smile bright as ever, he wrinkles his nose and turns away.

    1992, Toni Morrison, Jazz, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 67

11. obsoleteGiving off steam or vapour.

    Dark was the Path, and difficult, and ſteep, And thick with Vapours from the ſmoaky Deep.

    1717, William Congreve, “Book X. [The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 334

    1 more example

    He wrencht it [his sword] to the pommel through his ſides, That fro the wound the ſmoky blood ran bubling, VVhere-with he ſtaggred; […]

    1594, Robert Garnier, translated by Thomas Kid [i.e., Thomas Kyd], Pompey the Great, His Faire Corneliaes Tragedie: […], London: […] [James Roberts] for Nicholas Ling, published 1595, →OCLC, act V, signature [K4], verso

12. obsoleteObscuring or insubstantial like smoke.

    [T]o shewe them selfe playnely, to hate & deteste and abhorre vtterly, the pestylent contagyon of all suche smoky communycacyon.

    1534, Thomas More, “The Preface. Syr Thomas More Knyght to the Chrysten Reader.”, in The Answere to the Fyrst Parte of the Poysened Booke, […], London: […] w. Rastell […], →OCLC; republished as Stephen Merriam Foley, Clarence H. Miller, editors, The Answer to a Poisoned Book (The Yale Edition of the Complete Works of St. Thomas More; 11), New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1985, →ISBN, page 3, lines 21–23

    2 more examples

    If besides vayne crakes of smoky speeches, ye shewe no demonstration of sounde proofe, why these bragges of yours should be true, let vs graunt your saying.

    1581, Walter Haddon, Iohn Foxe, translated by Iames Bell, “The Thyrd Booke”, in Against Ierome Osorius Byshopp of Siluane in Portingall and against His Slaunderous Inuectiues. […], London: […] Iohn Daye, […], folio 277, verso; republished in Early English Books Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Text Creation Partnership, p. 2011, archived from the original on 09 Aug 2026

    [S]crambling with ſuch diſtracted violence for the ſmoaky honours, the nominal wealth, the intoxicating pleaſures of a few haſty daies, […]

    1658 March 2 (Gregorian calendar), Richard Baxter, “The Preface: To the Nobility and Gentry, and All That Have the Riches of This World”, in The Crucifying of the World, by the Cross of Christ. […], London: […] R. W. for Nevill Simmons […] and by Nathaniel Ekins […], →OCLC, signature [b4], verso

13. obsoleteQuick to suspect or take note; open to suspicion; shrewd, sharp, suspicious; jealous.

    Come, thou art, I see, a smoky old fellow, and I will be very orderly the ensuing part of the journey.

    1711 August 11 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “TUESDAY, August 1, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 132; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 197

    1 more example

    [T]his old brother of ours tho’ is ſmoaky and ſhrewd, and tho’ an odd, a ſenſible fellow; […]

    1765, Samuel Foote, The Commissary. A Comedy […], London: […] P[aul] Vaillant, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 20