variant of smoky. As a noun, sometimes short for Smokey Bear.
Entries linking to smokey
smoky adj.
also smoky, c. 1300, smoki, "emitting smoke," especially in a troublesome way; "full of smoke," from smoke (n.) + -y (2). Of atmosphere, etc., "having the appearance or nature of smoke," late 14c. Of flavors, from 1540s; of colors, from 1550s; of voices, by 1966. Related: Smokiness. Smoky eye as an eyeshadow color technique is by 1974. Smokish "resembling smoke," is from late 15c.
Smokey Bear n.
"state policeman," 1974, from truckers' slang, in reference to the wide-brim style of hat worn by state troopers (the hats so called by 1969). Ultimately the reference is to the popular illustrated character of that name, a bear dressed in forest ranger gear (including a hat like those later worn by state troopers). He was introduced in 1944 by the U.S. Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council in a campaign to lower the number of forest fires in the West.