Burnish \Bur"nish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burnished; p. pr. &
vb. n. Burnishing.] [OE. burnischen, burnissen, burnen, OF.
burnir, brunir, to make brown, polish, F. brunir, fr. F. brun
brown, fr. OHG. br?n; cf. MHG. briunen to make brown, polish.
See Brown, a.]
To cause to shine; to make smooth and bright; to polish;
specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and
smooth; as, to burnish brass or paper.
[1913 Webster]
The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare
From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Now the village windows blaze,
Burnished by the setting sun. --Cunningham.
[1913 Webster]
Burnishing machine, a machine for smoothing and polishing
by compression, as in making paper collars.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
burnished
adj : made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a
sheen or glow; "bright silver candlesticks"; "a
burnished brass knocker"; "she brushed her hair until
it fell in lustrous auburn waves"; "rows of shining
glasses"; "shiny black patents" [syn: bright, lustrous,
shining, shiny]
WordNet (r) 2.0
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