to smash

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

To break; also to kick down stairs. CANT. To smash. To pass counterfeit money.

Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “to smash” mean?

To break; also to kick down stairs. CANT. To smash. To pass counterfeit money.

Is “to smash” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.