шмон

Etymology
From, referring to 8:00 a.m. when the cells were searched each morning in the Odessa prison prior to the communist revolution.

Gračov does not give an etymology. Krysin claims a origin, without quoting the Yiddish form. Elistratov compares with dialectal, , on the possible German–Yiddish origin of which see Vasmer.

Has also been connected with slang, which is of Turkic origin.

Noun

 * 1)  frisk, shakedown, raid, body search, search (a sudden, unexpected checkup or raid, as a police check); frisker (person doing the frisking)
 * 2)  a sharp, unpleasant smell