The term 'sniffed out' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: 'nosed' (5 letters) and 'detected' (8 letters). 'Nosed' is a verb that means to smell something, usually with the nose. 'Detected' is a verb that means to discover or find something, often through careful observation. Together, the two words imply that something was found by smelling it. This phrase is often used to describe a situation in which someone has discovered something by using their sense of smell.