smartling

English

Etymology 1

From smartle +‎ -ing.

Verb

smartling

1. present participle and gerund of smartle

Etymology 2

From smart +‎ -ling.

Noun

smartling (plural smartlings)

1. One who is smart, shrewd, or clever; a smart-aleck.
   • 1773, The Gentleman's magazine, volume 3, page 262:

     And smartlings think it witty to blaspheme [...]

   • 1738, Stephen Duck, Poems on several occasions:

     And Smartlings think it Wit to play the Fool, [...]

   • 1902, James Hoyt, Seen & heard by Megargee - Volume 2, Part 2 - Page 565:

     The serious illness of Archbishop Corrigan of the New York Catholic diocese, has led a lot of newspaper smartlings to predict, with apparent mournfulness, that he might recover but for his "advanced age."

   • 1903, William Rheem Lighton, The ultimate moment:

     He determined that he would not hold up his honest admiration of his friend for the amusement of these smartlings.