- Smatter is a blending and clipping of smash and shatter. It was first heard in the context of a reporter describing a window that had been broken by strong winds and rain by the hurricane. The reporter probably chose this word as opposed to something ready-made because it was a shorter way of describing the effects of such a strong storm. Rather than saying, "The windows were smashed and shattered," it is easier just to say "smattered," especially since reporters, many times, have time and space constraints.
smatter
verb; blending and clipping 'Smash' + 'Shatter' = 'Smatter'
smatter, v. to break into many pieces by a strong force, such as gale force winds
Etymology : Smatter is formed from smash and shatter. Smash is likely a blending and clipping as well, from smack and mash, and used to mean something along the lines of ‘break to pieces.’ Shatter is probably a variant of scateren, from Middle English around 1330.
Source : "The windows in this office building are smattered across the street below by these winds." - Reporter on radio during Hurricane Ike 9/13/08
Last modified: 27 November 2008