to smoke
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To observe, to suspect.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Examples
The doctor advised Mr. White not to smoke a lot.Bác sĩ khuyên ông White không nên hút thuốc nhiều.
The doctor advised Mr. White not to smoke too much.Bác sĩ khuyên ông White không nên hút thuốc nhiều.
Tatoeba sentence #1137369 (CC BY 2.0 FR, tatoeba.org, retrieved 2026-07-31)
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 smoke” mean?
To observe, to suspect.
Is “to smoke” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.