Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to sneak away.

1893

Kipling ‘Record of Badalia Herodsfoot’ inMany Inventions 309: [Him] that ’ud smitch off and leave me.

2. (UK Und.) to avoid.

1928

Gloucester Citizen 19 Dec. 7/3: Their lordships now knew all about ‘gazoophing the sarkers,’ ‘Smitzing the bogey,’ ‘Slinging the gee’.