An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schmauch

by Friedrich Kluge

Schmauch, masculine, ‘thick smoke,’ from Middle High German smouch, ‘smoke, vapour’ (Anglo-Saxon smêč). Allied to a Teutonic root smū̆k (Pre-Teutonic smū̆g), ‘to smoke’; compare Anglo-Saxon smeócan, smŏcian, and the equivalent English to smoke, Dutch smoken, ‘to smoke,’ smook, ‘smoke’; also Low German smöken. Perhaps Greek σμὕχω (Aorist ε-σμύγ-ην), ‘to consume in a smouldering fire,’ is allied.