smell-feast

English

WOTD – 30 December 2023

Etymology

From smell (verb) +‎ feast (noun).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsmɛlfiːst/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsmɛlˌfist/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

smell-feast (plural smell-feasts)

1. (archaic) One who is apt to find and frequent places where good food is available; especially one who comes uninvited to a meal; a parasite; a sponger.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:scrounger

   • 1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Alexander the Greate”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentẽcious Saiynges, […], London: […] Ihon Kingston, →OCLC, book II, folio 144, recto, paragraph 38:

     Paraſites, were called ſoche ſmellefeaſtes as would ſeeke to be free geaſtes at richemens tables.

   • 1664, H[enry] More, chapter VII, in A Modest Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity, […], London: […] J[ames] Flesher for W[illiam] Morden […], →OCLC, book I, page 21:

     Origen ſpeaks of the religation of theſe Dæmons near their Statues, vvhether by Magical incantation, or that, like ſo many ſmell-Feaſts, they hankered near the Altars, to enjoy the nidorous fumes of the Sacrifices, […]

   • 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Æsop, &c.] Fab[le] XXXIV. An Ant and a Fly [Reflexion].”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 33:

     She [the ant] lives upon her Ovvn, Honeſtly Gotten and Poſſeſs'd, vvithout either Envy or Violence; VVhereas the Fly is an Intruder, and a Common Smell-Feaſt, that Spunges upon Other peoples Trenchers.

   • 1693 November 8 (Gregorian calendar); first published 1698, Robert South, “A Sermon Preached at Christ-Church in Oxford before the University, Octob. 29. 1693.”, in Twelve Sermons upon Several Subjects and Occasions, volume III, London: […] Tho[mas] Warren for Thomas Bennet […], →OCLC, page 94:

     [W]ho has a ſtupid Intellect, a Broken memory, and a blaſted vvit, and (vvhich is vvorſe than all) a Blind and a Benighted Conſcience, but the Intemperate and Luxurious, the Epicure and the Smell-feaſt?

   • 1869, Robert Browning, “VIII. Dominus Hyacinthus de Archangelis.”, in The Ring and the Book. […], volume III, London: Smith, Elder and Co., →OCLC, page 92, lines 39–40:

     The smell-feasts rouse them at the hint / There's cookery in a certain dwelling-place!

Translations

one who is apt to find and frequent places where good food is available; one who comes uninvited to a meal — see parasite,‎ sponger