An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schmeer
Schmeer, m., ‘fat, grease, smear,’ from the equiv. MidHG. smër (gen. smërwes), OHG. smëro (gen. smërwes), n.; comp. schmieren. From the root smër, contained in these words, are derived Goth. *smaír-þr, n., ‘fat, fatness,’ Du. smeer, ‘fat, grease, tallow,’ AS. smeoro, E. smear, OIc. smjǫr, ‘butter’; also, with a different meaning, Goth. smarna, ‘dirt, excrement’ (comp. its relation to Schmeer and schmieren), and, in a figurative sense, OHG. and AS. bismer, ‘contumely.’ In the non-Teut. languages the word has been compared, probably without any justification, with Gr. μὕρω, ‘to trickle,’ μῦρον, ‘salve.’