smoke n.1

late Old English smoca, smocca (rare) "visible fumes and volatile material given off by burning or smoldering substances," related to smeocan "give off smoke," from Proto-Germanic *smuk- (source also of Middle Dutch smooc, Dutch smook, Middle High German smouch, German Schmauch), from PIE root *smeug- "to smoke; smoke" (source also of Armenian mux "smoke," Greek smykhein "to burn with smoldering flame," Old Irish much, Welsh mwg "smoke").

The more usual noun was Old English smec, which became dialectal smeech. From late 14c. as "a puff, cloud, or column of smoke." Figurative use, of something unsubstantial," is by 1540s; in reference to an obscuring medium, 1560s.

There is no fyre without some smoke [Heywood, 1562]

In other forms the proverb dates to mid-15c.

Abusive meaning "Black person" is attested from 1913, American English. Smoke-eater "firefighter" is by c. 1930. Figurative phrase go up in smoke "be destroyed" (as if by fire) is from 1933 (an earlier figurative image was come to smoke, "come to nothing," c. 1600, with a different image in mind). Smoke-alarm "device giving warning of smoke" is by 1936; smoke-detector from 1957.

Middle English smoken, from Old English smocian, in late Old English smokian, "produce smoke, emit smoke," especially as a result of burning, intransitive, from smoke (n.1). Compare Dutch, Middle Low German smoken; for German rauchen, see reek (v.).

The transitive meaning "drive out or away or into the open by means of smoke" is attested from 1590s. Of chimneys, etc., "admit smoke outward instead of drawing it upward," 1660s. The meaning "to apply smoke to, to cure (bacon, fish, etc.) by exposure to smoke" is attested from 1590s. In old slang, "to sneer at, mock" (c. 1700).

In reference to tobacco, "draw fumes from burning into the mouth and puff them out again," it is first recorded 1604 in James I's "Counterblast to Tobacco." Related: Smoked; smoking.

"cigarette," slang, 1882, from smoke (n.1). Also "opium" (1884). The meaning "a spell of smoking tobacco" is recorded from 1835.