SMUDGE

I. verb (~d; smudging) Etymology: Middle English smogen Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to make a ~ on, to soil as if by smudging, 2. to rub, daub, or wipe in a smeary manner, to make indistinct ; blur , to smoke or protect by means of a ~, intransitive verb to make a ~, to become ~d, II. noun Date: circa 1774 1. a blurry spot or streak, an immaterial stain , an indistinct mass ; blur , a smoldering mass placed on the windward side (as to protect from frost), a bid of four in pitch that if made wins the game, smudgily adverb smudginess noun smudgy adjective