smith

Everyday

1. A person who makes and shapes things out of metal, especially iron (a blacksmith) or gold (a goldsmith). tree →
2. Smith is one of the most common family names in English-speaking countries. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, the village blacksmith made horseshoes, tools and nails at a hot forge. Many surnames come from old jobs, and Smith is the commonest. Other words with "-smith": goldsmith, silversmith, locksmith, wordsmith. Phrases: blacksmith, locksmith, goldsmith.

Examples

• The smith hammered the hot iron into a horseshoe. tree →
• My best friend's surname is Smith. tree →
• A locksmith helped us when we lost our key. tree →
• The goldsmith made a beautiful ring. tree →
• In the old village, the smith worked next to the inn. tree →
• Jamie Smith is in my class. tree →
• So the smith forged her two iron teeth. tree →

Note

Countable: a smith, smiths. As a name it needs a capital S. On its own "smith" is old-fashioned; people usually say "blacksmith" or another -smith word. A "wordsmith" is a person who is good with words.

In Jewish tradition

In these texts a smith is a metalworker who makes tools and weapons, and also the skilled craftsmen carried off to exile. Isaiah says God made even the smith.

Interpretation. In 1 Samuel the Philistines kept Israel without smiths so Israel could not make weapons. Isaiah reads this as showing that God rules over every craftsman and even over the makers of weapons.

Examples

• Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said: 'Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears'; (Prophets 1SA.13.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. (Prophets ISA.54.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• after that Jeconiah the king, and the queen-mother, and the officers, and the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem; (Prophets JER.29.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a smith, smiths. As a name it needs a capital S. On its own "smith" is old-fashioned; people usually say "blacksmith" or another -smith word. A "wordsmith" is a person who is good with words.