Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
SMELT
I. noun (plural smelts or smelt)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Norwegian smelte whiting Date: before 12th century any of a family (Osmeridae) of small bony fishes that closely resemble the trouts in general structure, live along coasts and ascend rivers to spawn or are landlocked, and have delicate oily flesh with a distinctive odor and taste,
II. transitive verb see: melt
Date: 1543
to melt or fuse (as ore) often with an accompanying chemical change usually to separate the metal, refine , reduce