Smarty
/ˈsmɑːr.ti/noun
An informal term for someone who is clever, especially in a self-satisfied or cheeky way.
Did you know?The adjective “smart” originally referred to physical pain or a stinging wound before it came to describe intelligence, giving “smarty” a surprisingly painful linguistic ancestry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*smart-
“Painful, stinging, or causing sharp sensation”
Old English
Old English
smeart
“Painful, severe, or sharp”
Old English
Old English
smeortan
“To feel or cause pain”
14th Century
Middle English
smerten
“To hurt, sting, or cause distress”
16th Century
English
smart
“Painful; later, vigorous or brisk”
17th–18th Century
English
smart
“Clever, mentally quick, or sharp”
19th Century
English
smarty
“A clever or overly self-assured person”