An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schmieralien

by Friedrich Kluge

Schmieralien, plur., ‘bribes,’ ModHG. only, formed like Lappalien (trifles), with a foreign suffix from a G. stem; comp. also Schwulität. Allied to schmieren, MidHG. smirn, smirwen, ‘to smear, salve, bribe,’ OHG. smirwen, a denominative of Schmeer.