On Wed, 27 Aug 1997, Charles & Mary Boewe wrote:

> On Wed, 27 Aug 1997 12:13:56 -0700 Greg Camfield <[log in to unmask]>
> writes:
> >I don't think I'd rely on the OED for American pronunciations. . . .
> >Such smouching would be the kiss of death to what Twain called the
> >American
> >language.
> >
> >                                        Gregg Camfield
> >
>
> As I sit on my couch and crouch over dictionaries, I realize I cannot
> vouch for the fact that "smouch" rhymed with "ouch" in Mark Twain's
> America.  But, as implied in my recent note via e-mail pouch, I accept
> the OED pronunciation until smOOch can be legitimately documented.
>
> Sorry to be such a grOOch!
>
>                         Mary Boewe

Dear Mary and Gregg:
A reliable American source for the "ow" pronunciation of "smouch" is the
Century Dictionary (ed. William Dwight Whitney and Benjamin E. Smith,
New York: Century Company, 1913) 6: 5721.

All best,
Vic Fischer