Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Smelt \Smelt\, n. [AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small silvery
      salmonoid fishes of the genus {Osmerus} and allied genera,
      which ascend rivers to spawn, and sometimes become
      landlocked in lakes. They are esteemed as food, and have a
      peculiar odor and taste.

   Note: The most important species are the European smelt
         ({Osmerus eperlans}) (called also {eperlan},
         {sparling}, and {spirling}), the Eastern American smelt
         ({O. mordax}), the California smelt ({O. thalichthys}),
         and the surf smelt ({Hypomesus olidus}). The name is
         loosely applied to various other small fishes, as the
         lant, the California tomcod, the spawn eater, the
         silverside.

   2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.

   {Sand smelt} (Zo["o]l.), the silverside.