SMOTHER

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to ~, from Old English smorian to suffocate; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate Date: 13th century 1. thick stifling smoke or smudge, a state of being stifled or suppressed, a dense cloud (as of fog or dust), a confused multitude of things ; welter , ~y adjective II. verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: circa 1520 intransitive verb to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air, transitive verb to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes, 2. to kill by depriving of air, to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air, to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen, 3. to cause to smolder, to suppress expression or knowledge of , to stop or prevent the growth or activity of , to cover thickly ; blanket , to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively, to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat