smitch

Another church (Newport Pagnell, Bucks) in an adjoining county -- probably some years previous to this date -- was lighted by tallow candles stuck in tin sconces on the walls, and twice during the service the clerk went round with a pair of long-handled snuffers to "smitch," as he called it, the wicks of these evil-smelling lights.

The Parish Clerk 1892

Not a smitch of white rags left on the trees, either.

Old Rail Fence Corners The A. B. C's. of Minnesota History Various

Uncle Jeptha couldn't fuss with chickens, and he didn't raise only a smitch of 'em last year and the year before -- just them that the hens hatched themselves in stolen nests, and chanced to bring up alive.

Hiram the Young Farmer Burbank L. Todd

"Not a smitch of work since I come out of the woods," admitted the bewhiskered man, rising quickly from the stoop to make way for Janice.

How Janice Day Won Helen Beecher Long

"Wait till every smitch of it's burned up an 'then come back."

The Wall Between Sara Ware Bassett 1920

For it was the first thing she had ever done all herself ... every bit ... every smitch!

Understood Betsy 1917

For it was the first thing she had ever done all herself ... every bit ... every smitch!

Understood Betsy Dorothy Canfield Fisher 1918

Well, he looked as carefully as he could, but my land sakes and a pair of white gloves! he couldn't seem to find a smitch of gold and not so much as

Uncle Wiggily's Travels Howard Roger Garis 1917

There was a pink flowering bush behind it and a smitch of green where it ran over into the sand ... and the rest was sage-brush, little and low; and crumply, colored hills.

Agua Dulce 1909

"But Ah hez t 'have a smitch of somethin' like-ez-how Miss Bob hez fer her shoulders, cuz my neck's gettin 'scrawny now."

Polly of Pebbly Pit Lillian Elizabeth Roy 1900