SMELT

I. noun (plural ~s or ~) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Norwegian ~e whiting Date: before 12th century any of a family (Osmeridae) of small bony fishes that closely resemble the trouts in general structure, live along coasts and ascend rivers to spawn or are landlocked, and have delicate oily flesh with a distinctive odor and taste, II. transitive verb see: melt Date: 1543 to melt or fuse (as ore) often with an accompanying chemical change usually to separate the metal, refine , reduce