Wiktionary
smeddum
n. 1 Fine powder; flour. 2 The powder or finest part of ground malt. 3 (context mining English) smitham. 4 (context Scotland English) zest, energy; pluck; sagacity; quickness of apprehension; gumption; spirit; mettle. 5 (context UK dialectal Northern England English) ore small enough to pass through the wire bottom of a sieve. 6 (context UK dialectal Northern England English) A layer of clay or shale between two beds of coal.