Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
SMOTHER
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate
Date: 13th century
1. thick stifling smoke or smudge, a state of being stifled or suppressed, a dense cloud (as of fog or dust), a confused multitude of things ; welter , smothery adjective
II. verb (smothered; smothering)
Date: circa 1520
intransitive verb to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air, transitive verb to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes,
2. to kill by depriving of air, to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air, to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen,
3. to cause to smolder, to suppress expression or knowledge of , to stop or prevent the growth or activity of , to cover thickly ; blanket , to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively, to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat