Smelter
/ˈsmɛltər/noun
A person or facility that extracts metal from ore by heating it until it melts and separates.
Did you know?Smelter comes from the same ancient root as English *smell* and *smoke*—all tied to the idea of vapor, burning, and what rises into the air.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*smel-
“to burn, singe, or make smoke”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*smeltaną
“to melt, dissolve by heat”
Old English
OE
smeltan
“to melt or cause to melt”
Middle English
ME
smelten
“to melt, especially metal or ore by heat”
16th Century
English
smelter
“one who smelts metal; a furnace or establishment for smelting”
Modern English
English
smelter
“a person or plant that extracts metal from ore by heating”