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01:23 Dec 2, 2003
English to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary
English term or phrase:smooch
American usage. I need preferably another meaning or usage than "to kiss or pet".
This is from a short story since 1892. Presumably, the usage has changed since then.
Explanation: Ok folks this is eerie, but this might be what we are looking for...
A Google search first revealed a disturbing (unreliable?) link to a page transcribing (supposed?) testimony from the infamous trial of the Lizzie Borden murders circa 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Q. What else did she wear besides trousers?
A. Hat
Q. What color hat?
A. Dark
Q. Any gloves?
A. No gloves
Q. Anything on chest and waist?
A. Nothing but trousers and hat
Q. What about paint?
A. Turkey red - smooch on dress burnt - from mop-board in kitchen - May, 1892.
Further searching then revealed what appears to be the actual transcription of the testimony.
I went up to the room where Mrs. Borden was found, and saw her laying there, and saw the blood on the bed, or at least on the shams, apparently a smooch it struck me, on the counterpain or coverlet.
Then there is also this one reference where a modern day commentator on the subject uses the term:
Lizzie Borden Society -- Archive -- LB -- Lead
... Then we are left with that smooch at the pocket of the ... that SKIRT was made of), to
be tested for pear detritus ... that, whether the crowd was in the Borden yard or ... www.lizzieandrewborden.com/Archive703/ LBorden/LBLead.htm
Finally, from the same time period, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper", published 1892, uses the term thus:
Then she said that the paper stained everything it touched, that she had found yellow smooches on all my clothes and John's, and she wished we would be more careful!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2003-12-02 02:33:33 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Oh, I forgot to add that from the context given for the question and the testimony regarding the discovery of Mrs. Borden\'s body, that I am getting that it means a round or oval-shaped stain.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2003-12-02 02:39:23 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Oops, reread the context! It appears here the shape is actually
given, so I\'ll just stick with stain. :)
Here comes more context: "A streak that runs round the room. It goes behind every piece of furniture, except the bed, a long, straight, even smooch, as if it had been rubbed over and over.
smooch [smuːtʃ] (informal)
verb [intransitive]
1 Also (Austral. and N.Z.): smoodge, smooge (of two people) to kiss and cuddle
2 (British) to dance very slowly and amorously with one's arms around another person, or (of two people) to dance together in such a way
noun
3 the act of smooching
4 (British) a piece of music played for dancing to slowly and amorously
[ETYMOLOGY: 20th Century: variant of dialect smouch, of imitative origin
Susana Galilea United States Local time: 18:46 Native speaker of: Spanish PRO pts in pair: 110
3 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
to smutch / to smudge or soil / to smile
Explanation: possibility from Random House
smutch (smuch), v.t.
1. to smudge or soil.
mooch1 (smÁch), v.t., n.
smutch.
smooch2 (smÁch), Informal.
–v.i.
1. to kiss.
2. to pet.
–n.
3. a kiss; smack.
[1580–90; var. of obs. smouch to kiss < ?; cf. dial. G schmutzen to kiss, smile]
—smoochÆer, n.
I don't know if any of these fit, but just in case, I thought I would share this with you.
Mike :)
Michael Powers (PhD) United States Local time: 19:46 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in pair: 1174
3 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
kiss
Explanation: The word dates back to at least 1588.
Explanation: is to kiss and hug, at least that's how I know it... mhm...
tygru Poland Local time: 01:46 Native speaker of: Polish PRO pts in pair: 12
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +4
a stain
Explanation: Ok folks this is eerie, but this might be what we are looking for...
A Google search first revealed a disturbing (unreliable?) link to a page transcribing (supposed?) testimony from the infamous trial of the Lizzie Borden murders circa 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Q. What else did she wear besides trousers?
A. Hat
Q. What color hat?
A. Dark
Q. Any gloves?
A. No gloves
Q. Anything on chest and waist?
A. Nothing but trousers and hat
Q. What about paint?
A. Turkey red - smooch on dress burnt - from mop-board in kitchen - May, 1892.
Further searching then revealed what appears to be the actual transcription of the testimony.
I went up to the room where Mrs. Borden was found, and saw her laying there, and saw the blood on the bed, or at least on the shams, apparently a smooch it struck me, on the counterpain or coverlet.
Then there is also this one reference where a modern day commentator on the subject uses the term:
Lizzie Borden Society -- Archive -- LB -- Lead
... Then we are left with that smooch at the pocket of the ... that SKIRT was made of), to
be tested for pear detritus ... that, whether the crowd was in the Borden yard or ... www.lizzieandrewborden.com/Archive703/ LBorden/LBLead.htm
Finally, from the same time period, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper", published 1892, uses the term thus:
Then she said that the paper stained everything it touched, that she had found yellow smooches on all my clothes and John's, and she wished we would be more careful!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2003-12-02 02:33:33 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Oh, I forgot to add that from the context given for the question and the testimony regarding the discovery of Mrs. Borden\'s body, that I am getting that it means a round or oval-shaped stain.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2003-12-02 02:39:23 (GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Oops, reread the context! It appears here the shape is actually
given, so I\'ll just stick with stain. :)
Ioanna Karamanou Local time: 19:46 Native speaker of: English, Greek PRO pts in pair: 152
The translation workplace 
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