Having a bitter, unpleasant, or pungent taste or smell; harsh and irritating to the senses.
From Latin acridus (sour, harsh), from acer (sharp, keen), from Proto-Indo-European *ak- (sharp, pointed). The meaning evolved from physically sharp to having sharp sensory qualities.
Acrid smoke from a fire literally burns your throat and eyes with its harshness—the word itself sounds sharp and biting, matching what it describes! It's onomatopoeia for the senses.
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