The meaning of ‘smoked’ in ‘smoked basins’ The passage below is from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The refectory was a great, low-ceiled, gloomy room; on two long tables smoked basins of something hot, which, however, to my dismay, sent forth an odour far from inviting. Here I can not understand the meaning of the hard-faced ‘ smoked ’ of ‘smoked basins.’ I know that ‘basin’ is a vessel to contain any liquid, but ‘ smoked basin’ makes no meaning for me. Thank you.
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