Definition of the word smack of

The phrase "smack of" is an idiom that has its origins in the English language during the 16th century. Its meaning refers to a sense or aroma that is reminiscent or typical of something else. The word "smack" by itself has roots in Old Norse, where it meant "to strike." In Middle English, it denoted a striking or slapping sound, as well as the sense of taste or odor that is crisp or sharp. By the 16th century, "smack" came to mean a strong, distinctive flavor or scent that reminded someone of something else. The preposition "of" in "smack of" indicates a connection or similarity to something else. When used with "smack," it suggests a sense or aroma that resembles or is typical of a particular thing. For example, the phrase "the sea air smacks of salt" conveys the idea that the scent of the sea is salty and reminiscent of the sea. The phrase "smack of" is used in a figurative sense, whereas "smack" by itself is primarily used literally to indicate a striking or lashed out force, particularly in nautical terms. The idiom "smack of" is still commonly used today to describe various things that evoke a particular scent, taste, or sense that is reminiscent of something else.