Smudging
/ˈsmʌdʒɪŋ/noun
The act of making something dirty or blurred, or the ritual burning of herbs for cleansing.
Did you know?The spiritual use of smudging is modern English, but the word’s older sense is simply to dirty or blacken something, showing how smoke and cleansing can live inside the same word.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
smodgen/smudgen
“To make dirty, stain, or blacken with soot or grease.”
Late Middle English
English
smodg(e)
“A blot, stain, or dirty mark.”
Early Modern English
English
smudge
“A dirty mark or smear; to stain or blur.”
19th Century
English
smudging
“The act of making a smudge or stain; later, the burning of aromatic plants in cleansing rituals.”
Modern English
English
smudging
“The practice of burning herbs such as sage for ritual cleansing, or the act of smearing or blurring.”