> This isn't common at all. What country are you thinking of? Very very common in my childhood in the northeastern and mid Atlantic United States. I have heard

> This isn't common at all. What country are you thinking of? Very very common in my childhood in the northeastern and mid Atlantic United States. I have heard it from west coaters too. No answer to the nickname "Smitty"? It is a common one, derived from Smith. You can Google it.