A recent conversation left me wondering whether the words 'smuggle' and 'smug' were derived from the same word.
It seems that Smug came from the lower German word Smuk (16c), meaning trim, neat or spruce. This in turn became smooth and sleek which, by 18th Century had come to mean self satisfied.
Smuggle is either from the lower German work 'smuggeln' or the Dutch 'smokkelen'. I prefer 'smokkelen', especially when it's pronounced in a Dutch accent. These words both meant 'to transport goods illegally'.
Despite these different origins it is possible to argue that Smuggle and Smug are distantly related. The link could be 'smiegen' - 'to press close' - which might link furtive behaviour ('smuggeln') and clothing ('smuk').
However! (and this is my master stroke) they are both related to the word 'smock', which might now be my favourite word of the whole of the 16th century as, depending where you were in Europe it could mean:
a) a garment you creep into
It seems that Smug came from the lower German word Smuk (16c), meaning trim, neat or spruce. This in turn became smooth and sleek which, by 18th Century had come to mean self satisfied.
Smuggle is either from the lower German work 'smuggeln' or the Dutch 'smokkelen'. I prefer 'smokkelen', especially when it's pronounced in a Dutch accent. These words both meant 'to transport goods illegally'.
Despite these different origins it is possible to argue that Smuggle and Smug are distantly related. The link could be 'smiegen' - 'to press close' - which might link furtive behaviour ('smuggeln') and clothing ('smuk').
However! (and this is my master stroke) they are both related to the word 'smock', which might now be my favourite word of the whole of the 16th century as, depending where you were in Europe it could mean:
a) a garment you creep into
b) to render a man effeminate or womanish (ha)
c) a pie base
Shmokkelen!
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