"import or export secretly and contrary to law," 1680s, of Low German or Dutch origin (see smuggler). The figurative sense of "convey in a clandestine way" is by 1783. Related: Smuggled; smuggling.
Entries linking to smuggle
smuggler n.
"one who imports and exports secretly and contrary to law," 1660s, from Low German smuggeln or Dutch smokkelen "to transport (goods) illegally," apparently a frequentative formation of a word meaning "to sneak" (from Proto-Germanic *smuganan; source also of Dutch smuigen "to eat secretly;" Swedish smyg "a lurking-hole," Danish smughandel "contraband trade," Norwegian smjuga, Old English smeogan "to creep"), perhaps literally "to slip (contraband through)," from Proto-Germanic *(s)muk- (see smock).
smuggling n.
"the offense of importing and exporting secretly and contrary to law," 1728, verbal noun from smuggle (v.).