Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Australia, New Zealand A cigarette break from work or military duty, often used onboard ship.
  • noun Australia, New Zealand, colloquial Any similar break from work for a drink, rest, snack, etc.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From smoke +‎ -o. Thought to be British Merchant Navy slang; from 1865.

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Examples

  • Anti-smoking campaign group Quit says the colloquial name of a work break should be changed from 'smoko' to 'quito'.

    Latest News - Yahoo!7 News 2009

  • "The term 'smoko' should be relegated to the history books, where it will sit nicely amongst other old-fashioned terms like the 'ladies lounge' and the 'six o'clock swill'."

    Latest News - Yahoo!7 News 2009

  • The long-held Australian tradition of taking a 'smoko' could soon be a thing of the past.

    Latest News - Yahoo!7 News 2009

  • I looked and found no reference to “smoko” so I left.

    Cheeseburger Gothic » The end of smoko. 2010

  • —Noko wena hayikona vula lo festele ebusuku loskelem smoko ga lo tshisa malahle zo bulala wena.

    Rainbow’s End Lauren St John 2007

  • Say you've knocked off for a smoko and you'll be back later on.

    CNN Transcript Jan 14, 2007 2007

  • They'll swim for Bespin, my Lord, to have a smoko with a gas-cocky called Calrissian.

    Archive 2005-05-01 2005

  • Say you've knocked off for a smoko and you'll be back later on.

    CNN Transcript Mar 10, 2007 2007

  • They'll swim for Bespin, my Lord, to have a smoko with a gas-cocky called Calrissian.

    Scar Friends Luncheon Circle 2005

  • —Noko wena hayikona vula lo festele ebusuku loskelem smoko ga lo tshisa malahle zo bulala wena.

    Rainbow’s End Lauren St John 2007

Comments

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  • Australian slang - a rest break. Probably falling into disuse due to the politically incorrect reference to smoking.

    December 6, 2007