SMITHAREEN

1 definition found

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  SMITHAREEN, n.  A fragment, a decomponent part, a remain.  The word is
  used variously, but in the following verse on a noted female reformer
  who opposed bicycle-riding by women because it "led them to the devil"
  it is seen at its best:
  
      The wheels go round without a sound --


          The maidens hold high revel;
      In sinful mood, insanely gay,
      True spinsters spin adown the way
          From duty to the devil!
      They laugh, they sing, and -- ting-a-ling!
          Their bells go all the morning;
      Their lanterns bright bestar the night
          Pedestrians a-warning.
      With lifted hands Miss Charlotte stands,
          Good-Lording and O-mying,
      Her rheumatism forgotten quite,
          Her fat with anger frying.
      She blocks the path that leads to wrath,
          Jack Satan's power defying.
      The wheels go round without a sound
          The lights burn red and blue and green.
      What's this that's found upon the ground?
          Poor Charlotte Smith's a smithareen!
                                                       John William Yope