smoke, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

smoke n.

1. in fig. senses.

(a) suspicion.

1552		G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 28: There be divers kind of cogging, but of all other the Spanish cogg bears the bell, and seldom raiseth any smoke.
1594		Lyly Mother Bombie I i: Nowe for my wife, I would haue this kept from her, else shal I not be able to keepe my house from smoake, for let it come to one of her ears, & then wo to both mine.

(b) myth, illusion, fantasy, esp. when actively promoted as disinformation or lies; thus smoky adj., deceptive.

1589		Greene Menaphon (1927) 77: You meane to follow sute and seruice, though you get but a handfull of smoake to the bargaine.
1739		Ipswich Jrnl 8 Sept. 2/1: We have had Rumours of War [...] for several Years past, which have all ended in pacifick Smoke.
1746		Caledonian Mercury 24 July 3/2: It is believed all his long Negotiations in Mardrid, from which the French promised themselves so mucvh, is likely to vanish into Smoke.
1782		Kentish Gaz. 18 Sept. 2/1: Great ex[ectations were formed from each event. In what did expectation end? Bot the one and the other ended in — smoke.
c.1800		‘Little Joe, the Chimney Sweeper’ in Holloway & Black I (1975) 158: Tis they who deal in smoke.
1833		S. Smith Major Downing (1834) 86: Newspapers were dreadful smoky things, and any body couldn’t read in ’em half and hour without having their eyes so full of smoke they couldn’t tell a pig-sty from a meeting house.
1837		‘Authors & Actors’ Bentley’s Misc. Feb. 133: I swallowed a quantity of the smoke last night in your new piece.
1841		D. Boucicault London Assurance in London Assurance and other Victorian Comedies Act V: I know it will all end in smoke.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum 82: smoke Humbug; any thing said to conceal the true sentiment of the talker; to cover the intent.
1867		‘Fenians Are Coming’ in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 113: Why, says Nell, it will end in a bottle of smoke.
1894		Mirror of Life 6 Oct. 2/3: [He] threatens to re-enter the ring, but such rot invariably ends in ‘smoke’.
1903		‘O. Henry’ ‘Atavism of John Tom Little Bear’ Rolling Stones (1913) 47: And then I began to catch his smoke.
1934		(con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 305: If only they could get a grip on the right words. They couldn’t, and were keenly aware of their smokes.
1944		J. Cary Horse’s Mouth (1948) 15: Coker was church, teetotal and no smoke.
1987		R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 42: ‘Word is he also punches out whores.’ ‘Half that word is bullshit and the other half blue smoke most of the time.’.
1992		J. Mowry Way Past Cool 258: What’s all this shit, man? There too much fuckin smoke in the air tonight.
2001		C. Stella Eddie’s World 3: It looks attractive but it could just be smoke.
2001		D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 171/1: smoke n. = cake.
2018-20		T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Smoke - disinformation or distraction.

1893		S. Crane Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (2001) 57: ‘What deh hell do dey wanna’ raise such a smoke about it fer?’ [...] He saw no necessity for anyone’s losing their equilibrium merely because their sister or their daughter had stayed away from home.
1906		E. Pugh Spoilers 161: ‘A green ’and might think it a improvement to put it on the ole man, y’see, whereas you ...’ ‘I bar that.’ ‘So do I, Chick; so do I. Makes too much of a smoke, murder does.’.
2020		G. Krauze What They Was 243: Dario says truss me Snoopz, they don’t want this smoke.

(d) (US) a blur.

1903

Inter Ocean (Chicago) 25 Jan. 34/3: The remainder of that evening is a good deal of a smoke to me.

(e) (Aus.) a state of absence, invisibility.

1935

C. Drew ‘Buckled’ in Bulletin 29 May 48/1: I’d gone into smoke for a while and was tryin’ to build up me bank roll by backin’ horses.

(f) nonsense.

1997		(con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 47: I could use a little smoke.
2018-20		T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Smoke - nonsense.

2. in lit. uses, pertaining to smoking tobacco or drugs.

(a) (also smoking) anything smokeable, a cigar, a pipe, a cigarette, tobacco.

1608		Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 3: Some lie in ambush to note [...] in what Tobacco-shop in Fleet-street he takes a pipe of Smoake in the afternoone.
1616		R.C. Times’ Whistle Sat. V 2219: And skip-iacke now will have his pipe of smoke, And whiff it bravely till hee’s like to choke.
1624		Skelton Elynour Rummynge (rev. edn) in Harleian Misc. I (1744–46) 478: Your pipes and your smoakes.
1792		Hebron Rec. (MS) n.p.: Pepoon, Silas, [...] 1 clock, 1 smoke 7/16 [DA].
1801		Hebron Rec. (MS) n.p.: Pepoon, Joseph, [...] 1 silver watch, 3 smokes 3rd rate [DA].
1842		Whip & Satirist of NY & Brooklyn (NY) 19 Mar. n.p.: The milk-maid’s delight is a May day, / But mine is a smoke and a Lass.
1848		‘Ned Buntline’ Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 77: An it’s a smoke ’ud comfort me poor breakin’ heart!
1853		‘Cuthbert Bede’ Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) I 64: If Mr Larkyns was no smoker himself, he at least kept a bountiful supply of ‘smoke’ for his friends.
1864		B. Hemyng Eton School Days 10: Want some smoke, eh?
1874		Leeds Times 28 Mar. 6/5: I go across the road and get two or three smokes — they’ve got nothing but pickwicks.
1877		‘’Arry on His ’Oliday’ Punch 13 Oct. 161/1: The weeds as I’ve blown is a caution; — I’m nuts on a tuppenny smoke.
1884		All Sloper’s Half Holiday 8 May 5/1: Kicking up her leg [...] la Comtesse de Juponcourte ignited a twopenny smoke.
1885		‘’Arry on Song and Sentiment’ in Punch 14 Nov. 229/1: To cut a fair dash, dress slap-uppish, ’ave fourpenny smokes and good drink.
1890		Kipling ‘Private Learoyd’s Story’ Soldiers Three (1907) 21: Ivry time there was a good dhrink an’ a handful o’ good smooaks.
1901		Boy’s Own Paper 16 Feb. 306: The boys having coffee and cakes, their elders coffee and smokes. [Ibid.] 23 Mar. 388: Try these smokes; I am told they are not absolutely repulsive.
1904		Sun. Times (Perth) 14 Feb. 4/5: [He] gave the latter a few of the smokes he had purchased.
1911		J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 23: A dozen more were in their glories / With laughs and smokes and smutty stories.
1914		E. Dyson Spats’ Fact’ry (1922) 58: His hand trifled mechanically with a packet of ‘smokes’ in his left trouser pocket.
1917		‘A-No. 1’ From Coast to Coast with Jack London 106: When a messenger had returned with a box of smokes, Sanders personally saw to the distribution of the cigars.
1920		T.H. Kelly What Outfit, Buddy? 152: ‘Any cigarettes?’ asked Joyce [...] ‘All out of smokings,’ was the disappointing answer.
1925		Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 236: As a matter of fact, I’ve come to touch you for a smoke.
1928		M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 184: If any relative of mine has fallen so low as to wear a red coat, he deserved to go without smokes.
1930		J. Lait Put on the Spot 18: The blonde lit a smoke.
1937		J. Curtis There Ain’t No Justice 14: Fred Mutch pulled out a packet of cigarettes. ‘Smoke?’.
1940		D. Maurer Big Con 254: Of course the odd man wins the smokes.
1944		L. Glassop We Were the Rats 122: About time we got an issue er smokes. [Ibid.] 234: I wouldn’t take a man’s last smoke.
1951		M. Spillane One Lonely Night 10: I pulled on a smoke until it caught in my lungs.
1953		I. Hamilton Till Human Voices Wake Us 64: What about the smokes you’ve hidden in the lapels of your coat.
1955		P. White Tree of Man (1956) 327: And smoke – Christ, I have curdled me stomach. I have given them away, the smokes.
1959		W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act II: We caught him with a fag-case stuffed with British army smokes!
1960		J.R. Ackerley We Think The World Of You (1971) 130: There was no doubt of it, he had terribly missed his smokes.
1967		J. Wynnum I’m a Jack, All Right 63: Keep an eye on him or he’ll thieve your smokes.
1968		N. Heard Howard Street 79: Take one of them ten-spots [...] and bring some smokes back.
1970		A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 178: Got a smoke, mate?
1975		D. Goines Inner City Hoodlum 30: Johnny took a long drag on his smoke.
1981		S. Berkoff Decadence in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 35: Petrol’s up and smokes are dear.
1984		P. Corris ‘Luck of Clem Carter’ in Heroin Annie [e-book] Do you want anything, smokes?
1990		S. Morgan Homeboy 213: I’ll have your smokes at [...] lunch call.
1991		M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read Chopper From The Inside 133: I borrowed two cartons of smokes for Alex.
1997		N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 180: I remember my smokes on the kitchen table.
1997		(con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 167: Karras stopped off for [...] smokes and a couple of six-packs.
2000		M. Dibdin Thanksgiving 39: Real small, about the size of a pack of smokes.
2005		P. Temple Broken Shore (2007) [ebook] I’ll take a smoke off you.
2007		C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 153: He started rolling smokes on the bar top.
2012		D. Whish-Wilson ‘In Savage Freedom’ in Crime Factory: Hard Labour [ebook] Dug out enough [i.e. gold] to pay for his smokes and bullets.
2014		M. McBride Swollen Red Sun 230: Toothpick between his teeth and a smoke behind his ear.
2020		(con. 1991-94) W. Boyle City of Margins 26: She puts a cigarette between her lips and lights it. She takes a heavy drag. Okay. What now? Finish your smoke, that’s what.
2021		P. Papathanasiou Stoning 79: [T]he young constable fiddled nervously with the smoke tucked behind his ear.

(b) the action of smoking a cigarette, cigar or pipe; thus do a smoke v.

1835		A.B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 213: Mrs. B. [to Mrs. S.]. Well, let’s light our pipes, and take a short smoke, and go to bed [DA].
1860		W.H. Russell Diary in India II 53: A few soldiers, in red and green coats, [were] lounging about, taking an early morning smoke.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Jan. 10/2: [H]e had been doing a smoke on the pavement outside when a bobby rushed out to tell him that his especial drunk was on.
1900		J. Conrad Lord Jim 121: ‘It isn’t half-past one yet’ says I; ‘you might snatch a smoke first.’.
1911		T.A. Dorgan ‘Daffydills’ in El Paso Herald (TX) 8 Sept. 8: Winsor the hophead had taken his last smoke. He decided to throw the old bamboo out of the window.
1915		Burton Dly Mail 13 Oct. 4/2: ‘I really don’t know how we should get along without a smoke as it tends to make life a lot more rosier for us’.
1924		‘Digit’ Confessions of a Twentieth Century Hobo 120: Nearly seventeen hours without food or drink or a smoke.
1930		J. Tully Shadows of Men 215: After a long smoke Hypo would imagine he was dying.
1946		Chicago Daily News 23 Nov. 21/2: Just let Quagmire try to sneak a quick smoke—wow! he’s a regular blood-hound [DA].
1965		G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 79: Mick was never against featuring soloists (it gave him time for a quick smoke in the wings).
1970		Dly Mirror (London) 24 Dec. 3/1: Must take a smoke [...] have an overwhelming desire to [...] have a cigarette.
1989		T. Blacker Fixx 308: We had a smoke and went to sleep.
2012		J. Fagan Panopticon (2013) 69: The first smoke of the day is always the best for me.

1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 14/1: On Thursday evening the Redferns held a big ‘smoke’ to celebrate the opening of the season.
1894		Coburg Leader (Vic.) 15 Dec. 2/5: If the Lyndhurst had ‘downed’ the East, in one innings as anticipated there would have been plenty of ‘smokes’ on the job.

(d) (US) a portion or share taken from a can or pail of beer [the putting of one’s lips to the can and sucking down the beer resembles puffing on a pipe].

1896

S. Crane George’s Mother (2001) 122: Youse gits one smoke at d’ can b’cause yeh b’longs t’ d’ gang.

(e) (drugs) opium.

1890		H. Nisbet ‘Bail Up!’ 215: If you want to enjoy the smoke [i.e. opium], you mustn’t take spirits before it.
1903		J. Dyer Ball Things Chinese 494: The flame of the lamp passes over it, converting part of it into the so-called smoke.
1915		G. Bronson-Howard God’s Man 376: You better can that black smoke, young fellow, or it’ll have you in the funny-house.
c.1930		(ref. to late 1898) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 271: They looked glum and washed out to me, but maybe they were getting over a session of smoke [opium].
1967		C. Cooper Jr Farm (1968) 76: I think it was mostly keepin her smoke habit up.
1989		J. Morton Lowspeak 130: Smoke – opium.
2009		Bismarck Times (ND) 10 Aug. n.p.: ‘Opium is our doctor [...] When your stomach hurts, you take a smoke’.

(f) the action of smoking opium.

1870		Dickens Edwin Drood in Works 33 (1900) 286: I’ve got a pretty many smokes ready for you, first and last, haven’t I, chuckey?
1871		Falkirk Herald 6 Apr. 2/1: Wanting to have a smoke, and not being able to get opium, is a hundred times worse.
1890		Dead Bird (Sydney) 24 May 7/4: Wobbling round the ring like a dissipated Chinaman after a big smoke.
1905		H. Green Actors’ Boarding House (1906) 127: A guy can’t get no coin when he’s dyin’ fur a smoke.
1913		Truth (Sydney) 16 Mar. 11/4: Fashionable swells of women / Do consider it a joke, / For to lay about there daily / For to do their little smoke!
1920		F. Williams Hop-Heads 82: We’ll run over to ‘the Chink’s’ for a smoke.
1925		Black Mask Aug. III 55: You got the mud, Adams? [...] I’m damn near dead for a smoke.
1953		Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 315: smoke. A bout of opium smoking.

(g) marijuana, esp. a marijuana cigarette.

1934		N.Y. Times 18 Oct. n.p.: The detectives bought a box of the ‘smokes’ for $2 and then called in the other raiders.
1949		H.C. Bosman Cold Stone Jug (1981) II 24: He passes me the dagga-smoke again.
1961		‘Lou Rand’ Gay Detective (2003) 91: All three were busy with their smokes, tittering and laughing [...] inanely.
1967		M.S. Brookins ‘Aspiration’ in Kochman Rappin’ and Stylin’ Out (1972) 381: His eyes were mere slits, heavily weighted down by the mellow smoke—light-green marijuana.
1977		L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 13: Sometimes he would strop it [...] for hours, especially after we had smoked some smokes.
1987		(con. 1970s) J. Pistone Donnie Brasco (2006) 288: ‘The hard stuff and the smoke is what’s selling big now in New York.’ He had one outlet immediately for 300 pounds of grass.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 321: I’ve got good smoke, here!
2006		G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 166: Wonder how much cocaine and smoke is trading hands in those bathrooms.
2007		L. Redhead Cherry Pie [ebook] ‘A smoke would make it better,’ Chloe said. Joy proffered the Port Royal pack. Chloe shook her head. ‘A smoke smoke. There any around here?’.
2012		L. Berney Whiplash River [ebook] A scrawny Rastafarian [...] asked her if she’d be interested in some smoke.
2015		L. McInerney Glorious Heresies 32: [H]e’d go do the various errands that kept the coke and smoke topped up.
2019		Headie One ‘Both’ 🎵 Spend this bread on jewels or spend it on smoke.

(h) the action of smoking cannabis.

1976		R. Carver Stories (1985) 73: ‘You guys ready for another smoke?’.
1979		Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 115: Comin’ for a smoke?
1986		R.G. Barrett Godson 211: ‘You guys fancy a smoke?’ she asked. ‘What… pot?’ said Norton. ‘Yeah’.
1990		R.G. Barratt ‘Politics of Pot’ in What Do You Reckon (1997) [ebook] You’re also sick of paying an arm and a leg for a smoke.
1992		in R. Graef Living Dangerously 77: We’d always have our friends around, for a drink or a smoke.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 193: They pulled over for a smoke.
2007		D. McDonald Luck in the Greater West (2008) 110: She and Melissa had gone for plenty of smokes with boys.

(i) crack cocaine.

1991		L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 59: Afterwards, we give ’em some smoke. That’s all they was workin’ for anyway, them little biddy rocks we give ’em.
2001		ONDCP Street Terms 19: Smoke — Marijuana; Crack Cocaine; heroin and crack.
2008		G. Pelecanos Way Home (2009) 176: He had not taken care of himself, with his poor diet, drinking, all manner of smoke, and powder when he could get it.

3. in context of skin colour.

(a) a derog. term for a black person, also attrib.; thus smokeville n., a community of black people.

1896		Tennessean (Nashville, TN) 12 July 4/8: A negro named ‘Smoke’ [...] was standing on Cedar Street.
1902		T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 75: He thanked those present for their encouragement…and said he was as near the championship as he could be, considering that a negro held that prize and he refused to quarrel with a ‘smoke’.
1905		F. Hutchison Philosophy of Johnny the Gent 73: [T]here ain’t no crap-shootin’, policy-playin’, pigeon-brained, pipe-fiend smoke in the bad lands that’s got a thing in the world on that guy when it comes to bein’ superstitious!
1905		F. Hutchison Philosophy of Johnny the Gent 91: ‘Clancy an’ the smoke porter pick him up, chair an all, an’ move him into the back room’.
1909		Sun. Times (Perth) 5 Dec. 2s/4: In some States of America the white youths are taught to consider the negro as no more human than a gorilla [...] When Jeffries goes into the ring against the Big Smoke [i.e. Jack Johnson] we are tipping there will be no hand-shake prior to the first round.
1912		Hull Dly Mail 7 Aug. 1/6: The negro [is] a ‘smoke’.
1913		Day Book (Chicago) 14 Jan. 3/1: A conference has been arranged [...] at which it will be decided what to do with the Big Black Smoke [John Johnson] .
1925		Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 115: ‘It’s a shine ’at set the fire.’ [...] ‘God, he’s a meanlookin smoke.’.
1932		(con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 4: He had bashed the living moses out of that smoke who pulled a razor on him.
1947		S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 16: I believe the ice pick is preferred now, by the better smokes.
1953		C. Sandburg Always the Young Strangers 283: I could see he would like to fight me if I was willing, a ‘snork’ and a ‘smoke’ bloodying each other’s noses.
1961		C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 21: Most Negroes live together [...] in their own communities, such being known as black-belts, dark-towns, nigger-slums, fly-burgs, smoke-villes or simply colored districts.
1977		(con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 27: If you were a smoke, the only way you’d ever make the Express was the day you celebrated your 142nd birthday.
1983		I.L. Allen Lang. of Ethnic Conflict 47: Color Allusions, Other than ‘Black’ and ‘Negro’: […] smoke [1920s. Also smokey, -y, and smokey-joe].
1992		D. Pinckney High Cotton (1993) 140: I would come to no good among the no accounts, burrheads, shines, smokes, charcoals, dinges, coons, monkeys, jungle bunnies, jigaboos, spagingy-spagades, moleskins, California rollers, Murphy dogs, and diamond switchers.
2001		(con. 1964–8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 446: I ran that smoke out of town three months ago.
2019		D. Winslow Border [ebook] ‘[N]o drug-slinging smoke is going to murder a white New York City gold shield’.

(b) as used by a black person, thus not derog.

1926		Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 13: Blues, smokes, dinges, charcoals, chocolate browns, shines, and jigs. [Ibid.] 192: Ah can’ ’count fo’ duh actions an’ movements o’ dis bunch o’ smokes.
1947		S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 236: What does a smoke want of drayma when he can get a bankroll and a nice piece.

1934

R. Chandler ‘Finger Man’ in Pearls Are a Nuisance (1964) 65: ‘I’m making a little play at Las Olindas tonight,’ he said. ‘At Canales’ place.’ ‘The white smoke?’.

4. any cheap, rotgut alcohol, esp. denatured alcohol shaken up with water and drunk by down-and-out alcoholic tramps [the liquid turns cloudy when shaken].

1901		Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Aug. 14/1: I am reminded of a pub. out from Adavale (Q.) which I struck one blazing summer day. I was biking it, and had done 40 miles against a head wind. On arrival, I invited ‘mine host’ to join me in a drink – 2s. (‘Bob a nip,’ thinks I – ‘smoke!’).
1904		‘O. Henry’ Cabbages and Kings 58: Bottles of brandy [...] Scotch ‘smoke’ and inexpensive wines behind the little counter.
1910		‘O. Henry’ ‘The World and the Door’ in Whirligigs (1939) 11: Merriam sat in a corner [...] and smoked and drank Scotch ‘smoke’.
1924		O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 31 May [synd. col.] ‘Bowery smoke’ – the varnish and acid hooch that sells for 20 cents a shot.
1934		L. Berg Prison Nurse (1964) 95: These crummy bastards won’t know the difference; most of them never guzzled anything but ‘smoke’.
1943		J. Mitchell McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon (2001) 29: A bottle of Canadian whiskey, which she calls ‘smoke’.
1955		E. Hunter Blackboard Jungle 198: What the hell was smoke, anyway? Something alcoholics did with wood alcohol, or denatured alcohol, or something.
1957		C. Himes Imabelle 34: Ain’t nothing but smoke [...] Lots of folks here in the Valley won’t drink nothing else.
1965		C. Himes Rage in Harlem (1969) 35: [as 1957].

5. (US) the ideal, the best.

1908

B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 90: Mutt is the real smoke for President. He will make Mr. Daft and Mr. Chinning look like a couple of cracked crabs.

6. (US campus) $1 [so small a sum ‘goes up in smoke’].

1975

G. Underwood ‘Razorback Sl.’ in AS L:1/2 66: That beer cost us twelve smokes.

7. (US campus) an attractive female.

2003

Eble Campus Sl. Nov.

8. (UK Black, also smokie) a gun.

2015		67 ‘Hoohaks’ 🎵 I said don't get caught with a smoke / [...] / Niggas dem love gun play, they love putting corn in them clips.
2015		67 ‘It’s Frying’ 🎵 I'll be in Notre Dame with them smoky things, you know bullets be flying.
2016		Harlem Spartans ‘Hazards’ 🎵 How you gon' beef, if you ain't got smoke?
2017		67 ‘Waps’ 🎵 Gang shit, turn up and party with smokies.

9. (UK black/gang) aggression, conflict.

2018-20

T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Smoke - conflict, violence, hostility.

Pertaining to smoking tobacco or drugs

In compounds

lazy smoke (n.)

(N.Z. prison) a cannabis cigarette that one has begged from a fellow-inmate.

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 106/1: lazy smoke n. a marijuana joint or tobacco cigarette bludged from another inmate.

smoke factory (n.) (also smoke joint) [joint n. (3b)]

(US) an opium den.

1905		‘Hugh McHugh’ You Can Search Me 33: A ride through this tunnel on a hot day will put you over on Woosey Avenue quicker than a No. 9 pill in Hop Lee’s smoke factory.
1920		F. Williams Hop-Heads 92: I’m going to scout around and see if it is safe enough for us to go into the Chink’s smoke joint.

smokehead (n.) [-head sfx (4)]

a crack cocaine addict.

1987

T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 528: We’ve blown the cover on this lowlife smokehead he’s got for a witness.

smokehound (n.) [-hound sfx] (US Und.)

1. a crack cocaine addict.

2006

Burns & Price ‘Corner Boys’ Wire ser. 4 ep. 8 [TV script] Next thing they’re working on some fourteen-year-old smokehound like he’s Bin Laden.

2. a marijuana smoker.

2008

R. Price Lush Life 8: Geohagen [...] holds up a Ziploc of weed. ‘Because we need more fuckin smokehounds.’.

smokehouse (n.)

see separate entry.

smoke pad (n.) [pad n.² (2)]

(drugs) anywhere that people can gather to smoke opium, later marijuana.

1956

(ref. to 1924) S. Longstreet Real Jazz Old and New 145: Smoke pad, the cot on which the [opium] smoking is done.

smoke shop (n.) (also smoke shack) [note 18C–19C SE smoke shop, a tobacconist’s where one could gather to talk and smoke]

(US drugs) a place or shop where marijuana is sold, esp. somewhat openly.

1937		C. Himes ‘A Nigger’ in Coll. Stories (1990) 29: They’d seen each other around Bunch Boy’s smoke shop at various times.
1959		W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 117: Whitey picked her up one night in a skid-row smoke shack.
1993		A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 64: Buying supplies at a smoke shop on West Fourth Street, bartering for crack vials, and dropping off packages.
2001		A. Schulman 23rd Precinct 15: ‘This block is a problem, ‘ he says as he turned in a slow circle. ‘The smoke shops sell marijuana’.
2020		S.A. Crosby Blacktop Wasteland 201: ‘He owns a bunch of smoke shops’.

smoke show (n.)

(US ) an exceptionally attractive individual.

2010		Urban Dict. 31 July 🌐 smokeshow A word to describe someone so hot that you basically see the smoke coming off them... (sexy bombshell walks into a bar) Dude 1: ‘Dude, check out the smokeshow that just walked in!’ Dude 2: ‘Holy...she's HOT!’.
2022		google 18 Nov. 🌐 Urban Dictionary defines a ‘smokeshow’ as someone who is ‘so hot’ that ‘you basically see smoke coming off of them.’ Wowzers. Similarly, Wiktionary describes a ‘smokeshow’ as slang for an ‘extremely physically attractive individual’.
2023		J. Jackson Pineapple Street 148: ‘Why do guys get the hot ones?’ ‘Like who?’ ‘Miss Chiquita?’ Sasha countered. ‘Smokeshow,’ Cord agreed.

Smoketown (n.) (also Smokeville)

(US) Pittsburgh, PA, thus Smoketowner, a local inhabitant.

1921		Brooklyn Dly Eagle (NY) 13 Sept. 23/4: Glazner lived up to everything that the Smokeville boss expected of him.
1938		Pittsburgh Courier (PA) 5 Mar. 11/1: Johnny Hill, her man from Smoketown [...] with wandering optics.
1940		Pittsburgh Courier (PA) 6 Jan. 5: [headline]Lovely ‘Little Bo’ Captivates Smoketowners.
1943		Pittsburgh Courier (PA) 10 July 10/4: Two delightful visiors stopped over in Smoketown.

smoke wagon (n.)

(US black) a large and smoky marijuana cigarette.

2000

Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 smoke wagon Definition: anotha name for a blunt dat clouds up da room Example: I cant see shit. Dat smoke wagon is foggin the room.

In phrases

blow smoke (v.)

1. (drugs) to inhale cocaine.

2001

ONDCP Street Terms 3: Blow smoke — To inhale cocaine.

2. (US campus) to smoke marijuana.

1981

Eble Campus Sl. Fall 2: blow some smoke – use marijuana.

get some smoke (v.)

to smoke marijuana.

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 210: to smoke marijuana [...] get some smoke.

watch my smoke (excl.)

rhetorical excl. calling for the hearer to be impressed by the speaker’s progress (lit. or fig.).

1909		H. Green Mr. Jackson 256: Now let Newport watch our smoke.
1925		S. Lewis Arrowsmith 104: You watch my smoke!
1935		Operator 1384 Devil’s Diplomats 256: ‘This is where we start work, Mac,’ I said. [...] ‘The Major said we were to get busy as soon as we were clear of the town.’ ‘O.K.,’ grinned McCann. ‘Watch my smoke!’ .
1971		M. Angelou ‘Calling of Names’ in Cool Drink of Water 43: He went to being called a Colored man / after answering to ‘hey, nigger,’ / [...] / Hey, Baby, Watch my smoke.

Pertaining to alcohol

In compounds

smoke-hound (n.) [-hound sfx]

(US) an alcoholic who drinks rotgut alcohol.

1945		H.B. Darrach Jr. ‘Sticktown Nocturne’ in Baltimore Sun (MD) 12 Aug. A-1/1: Milkhounds, or smokehounds, drink denatured alcohol with water, a beverage [that is] poison to everybody but smokehounds .
1991		D. Simon Homicide (1993) 249: The man was a smokehound all right.
1997		Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 158: Good laws, reasoned attempts to prevent rummies and smokehounds from cluttering the streets. [Ibid.] 159: The paper bag allowed the smokehounds to keep their smoke.
2004		Simon & Price ‘All Due Respect’ Wire ser. 3 ep. 2 [TV script] Some nameless smokehound who comes out of the cut-rate one day.
2008		Simon & Mills ‘React Quotes’ Wire ser. 5 ep. 5 [TV script] We need to be watching [...] the smokehounds.

smoke joint (n.) [joint n. (3b)]

(US) a bar that specializes in selling cheap, second-rate liquor.

1930		Dly News (NY) 20 Oct. 4/5: A veteran Bowery bum well known in smoke joints on misery row [...] was found dead from alcoholism.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 199/2: Smoke-joint. An unlicensed dive that sells smoke.

Pertaining to deception

In phrases

blow smoke in someone’s ear (v.) (also blow smoke at)

(US) to pass on information, genuine or otherwise.

2001		C. Stella Eddie’s World 3: A guy blows smoke in your ear, you don’t know whether it might turn into something.
2003		C. Stella Charlie Opera 233: Let’s not blow smoke at each other.

blow smoke out of one’s ears (v.)

1960s US to talk nonsense, to say nothing of worth.

1969

E. Leonard Moonshine War 107: ‘Frank, if you want to buy it, give me the money [...] Otherwise you’re just blowing smoke out your ears’.

blow smoke up someone’s ass (v.) (also blow hot air..., blow smoke, blow smoke up someone) [ass n. (2)]

to confuse, to tell lies to.

1958		(con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 49: ‘You trying to snow me?’ Andy asked. ‘No, sir! Hope to die. You never knowed me to blow smoke up nobody.’.
1965		E. Chaze Tiger in the Honeysuckle 244: I knew you didn’t call me in here to blow smoke up my ass.
1970		in P.R. Runkel Law Unto Themselves 197: The first time [...] someone tol’ me that you were a real educated man I thought he was blowin’ smoke up my ass.
1974		R. Blount Jr About Three Bricks Shy of a Load 61: ‘I’m not blowing smoke. Everybody on this team is convinced we’ll win the Super Bowl’.
1980		E. Leonard City Primeval 85: ‘Shit, he ain’t got any witnesses. He’s blowing smoke at us’.
1981		G.V. Higgins Rat on Fire (1982) 7: Anybody who tells you different’s just blowing smoke up your ass.
1989		P. Munro Sl. U. 40: I was late because I had a flat tire, but my dad thought I was just blowing smoke up his ass.
1992		G.P. Pelecanos Firing Offense 202: ‘You’re going to believe I’m blowing smoke up your ass, but frankly, Nick, you did me a favor last night’.
2006		G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 117: Who blew smoke up his ass and told him he was [Bob] Dylan?
2012		L. Berney Whiplash River [ebook] ‘You think that’s what I’m doing, Shake? Blowing hot air up your ass?’.
2013		T. Robinson Hard Bounce [ebook] I didn’t want to blow a load of smoke up the kid’s ass.
2017		D. Winslow The Force [ebook] Malone is pissed. Either Teddy is blowing smoke or someone in Manhattan North is on Carter’s pad.

in smoke (also into smoke) [the obscurity cast by a pall of smoke]

(Aus.) in hiding or into hiding.

1907		Sun. Times (Perth) 13 Jan. 1/1: A wanted embezzler isn’t far away from Berth [...] he is ‘in smoke’ at a well known chateau d'amour.
1910		L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 69: Yes Mr. Jones, I ain’t in smoke. You’ll see me at four o’clock any morning, down at the market, buying me rabbits.
1924		C.J. Dennis ‘Crusaders’ in Chisholm (1951) 80: ‘Jist now,’ sez Brannigan. ‘Spike Wegg’s in smoke. / Oh, jist concems a cove ’e tried to croak.’.
1939		K. Tennant Foveaux 311: I ain’t seen you about either [...] Been in smoke?
1949		H.C. Bosman Cold Stone Jug (1981) II 22: Like as not the johns is already laying for me there. Looks like I’ll have to go in smoke.
1954		Sun. Mail (Adelaide) 25 Sept. 45/2: I planted the rod and ‘went into smoke.’ [...] After a few days I came out of smoke.
1955		N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 234/2: in smoke – in hiding from the law.
1960		E. North Nobody Stops Me 45: They know who done it. A bit of dirt called Snow Rider. He went into smoke.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 105/1: smoke, phr. go into smoke go into hiding, disappear go into hiding, disappear.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 112: in smoke In hiding, concealed. ANZ early C20.

pass the bottle of smoke (v.)

to accept conventional untruths, to tell white lies.

1857

Dickens Little Dorrit (1967) 276: To help myself in my turn, as the man before me helps himself in his, and pass the bottle of smoke. To keep up the pretence as to labor, and study.

smoke-up (adj.) [the image of ‘pipe dreams’]

(US) fantastic, implausible.

1896

F. Hutcheson Barkeep Stories 7: ‘You stand round an’ look wise an’ tell ’bout how you come near ownin’ dat black filly dat just win [...] an’ a few more smoke-up stories’.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

smoke cheaters (n.)

see cheaters n.² (1)

smoke-eater (n.) (US)

1. (also smoke-chewer) a firefighter.

1884		Fireman’s Journal 25 Oct. 337/1: In the afternoon a game of baseball was played by a nine from the Easton Fire Department and the New York Fire Department nine [...] The game resulted in victory for the New York ‘smoke chewers’ by a score of twenty to five.
1936		Mencken Amer. Lang. (4th edn) 563: Making an attribute do duty for the whole gives him stiff for corpse, flat-foot for policeman, smoke-eater for fireman.
1939		L.M. Limpus Honest Cop 25: [H]e wanted to be a ‘smoke-eater.’ [...] He was going to be a fireman.
1939		Howsley Argot: Dict. of Und. Sl.

2. a heavy smoker.

1922

Appleton Post-Crescent (WI) 12 May 11/1: Flapper Dictionary smoke-eater – A Flapper with a strong appetite for cigarets.

smoke-hole (n.)

the mouth.

1700

T. Brown Amusements Serious and Comical in Works (1744) III 138: Stop your smoak-hole, nincompoop.

smokehouse (n.)

see separate entry.

smoke iron (n.)

(US) a handgun.

1936

Norvell Page ‘Secret Guns’ in Thrilling Western May 🌐 Holster, yore smoke iron. I’ll do the same and we’ll shoot it out even.

smoke-pole

see separate entries.

smoke screen (n.) [its masking of body odour]

(US black) underarm deodorant.

1943

D. Burley N.Y. Amsterdam News 18 Dept. 22: You lay down some action with the smoke-screen under your brace of hookers.

smokestack

see separate entries.

smoke-stick (n.)

1. (US) a cigar.

1907

N.Y. Tribune 15 Sept. 11/1: ‘Make yourself to home, gents, while I dig up a box of smoke sticks’ [...] I comes back with the cigars.

2. a firearm.

1927		Flynn’s Weekly 22 Jan. 376/2: I ups and prods him and says, ‘Hand it over, er this smokestick’ll do the talking.’.
1940		Mail (Adelaide) 22 June 23/1: A rifle is a ‘smoke-stick’.

smoke-up (n.)

a break for smoking.

1965

G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 122: The front line were having a quick smoke-up in the wings.

smoke wagon (n.)

1. (US Und.) a revolver, a pistol.

1902		Wash. Times (DC) 14 Sept. 10/4: Reds, gats, or smoke wagon — A revolver.
c.1906		‘Sleepy’ Burke Prison Gates Ajar 10: Every man was looking for the others with their ‘smoke wagons’ (guns).
1912		D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 2: The thug who waylays you [...] and takes your money by persuasion of an ugly .44 caliber ‘smoke-wagon’.
1914		Wash. Post 11 Nov. Miscellany 3/6: In the West the yegg calls his revolver, if it is not automatic, a ‘smoke wagon.’.
1926		J. Black You Can’t Win (2000) 113: I’ll have her buy me a pair of ‘smoke wagons.’ [...] If I have a couple of guns I won’t be helpless.
1928		J. Callahan Man’s Grim Justice 131: ‘Brooklyn Shine’ and his gang had dozens of notches on their smoke wagons.
1930		‘Dean Stiff’ Milk and Honey Route 214: Smoke wagon or gat – Same as rod, a gun.
1936		R.F. Adams Cowboy Lingo 166: The cowboy’s names for his gun were legion [...] ‘smoke-wagon’.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 199/2: Smoke-wagon. Any heavy calibre— usually .45-calibre—non-automatic revolver.
1962		Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 819: smoke wagon – A pistol or revolver.
2003		W. Johnstone Quest of the Mountain Man 95: If you’re planning on drawing that smoke wagon, I suggest you get to work.

2. (US) an automobile, esp. a taxicab.

1908		‘Hugh McHugh’ Go To It 39: I will be a chauffeur on a smoke-wagon.
1914		‘Hugh McHugh’ You Should Worry cap. 5: Children are hardly out of the cradle before they are arrested for butting into the speed limit with a smoke wagon.
1965		N.Y. Herald Trib. 27 June 24: He was the man who started the taxicab industry in New York City. [...] He operated the first fleet of what street-corner loafers jeeringly called ‘smoke-wagons’ – 65 of them to start, 700 within a year.

In phrases

like smoke (adv.)

(Aus.) very energetically; very quickly; exceedingly.

c.1850		Mrs. Cuddle’s Bed-Room Lectures (10–15) 6: Under his ribs her fist she’d poke, / And jam away like fun and smoke.
1862		W.B. Cheadle Journal (1931) 28 Nov. 89: Snows 4 inches in the night. Sleds go like smoke.
1873		W.H. Thomes Bushrangers 114: If I knew of a set of d—d rascals loafing round here, I should tell you about it like smoke.
1895		Riverina Recorder (Moulamein, NSW) 23 jan. 2/5: Mac’s English draught beer is excellent [...] the first hogshead went off like smoke.
1902		‘Banjo’ Paterson ‘A Disqualified Jockey’s Story’ in Rio Grande’s Last Race (1904) 76: Smithy opened out / And let her up beside him on the rails, / And kept her there a-beltin’ her like smoke.
1922		U. Sinclair They Call Me Carpenter 57: It costs like smoke.