burnish

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To make (something, such as a surface) bright, shiny, and smooth by, or (by extension) as…

   To make (something, such as a surface) bright, shiny, and smooth by, or (by extension) as if by, rubbing; to polish, to shine.

   • In pottery, a stone is sometimes used to burnish a pot before firing, giving it a smooth, shiny look.
   • Lyke as the larke, vpon the somers day, / Whan Titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bryght, […]
   • So forth he came all in a cote of plate, / Burniſht vvith bloudie ruſt; […]
2. 2

   Of a stag

   Of a stag: to remove the velvet (“skin and fine fur”) from (its antlers) by rubbing them against something; to velvet.

   • The Stagg or Buck burnisheth his head, by rubbing it againſt the trees, Het Hart wrijſt ſijn hooſt tegen de boomen.
   • Deer are ſaid to burniſh their Heads, vvhen rubbing off a vvhite dovvny Skin from their Horns againſt a Tree, they thruſt 'em into a reddiſh Earth, to give 'em a nevv Colour and Luſtre.
3. 3

   To make (someone or something) appear positive and highly respected.

   • If a Lye, after it is molded, be not ſmooth enough, there is no inſtrumẽt to burniſh it, but an oath; Svvearing giues it cullor, & a bright complexion.
   • [I]f he is not burnishing thinks he all's Time does lose, / For Sir Jan, Sir Jan, &c. [i.e., no dinner gave a Muse.]
   • Purſuit of fame vvith pedants fills our ſchools, / And into Coxcombs burniſhes our Fools; […]
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   1. 4

      To become bright, glossy, and smooth

      To become bright, glossy, and smooth; to brighten, to gleam, to shine forth.

      • Hovv you itch Michaell, hovv you burniſh! / VVill not this ſouldiers heat out of your bones yet, / Doe your eyes glovv novv?
   2. 5

      A shine of something which has been polished

      A shine of something which has been polished; a lustre, a polish.

   3. 6

      A shiny layer applied to a surface or other thing.

   4. 7

      The making of something bright, shiny, and smooth by, or (by extension) as if by, rubbing

      The making of something bright, shiny, and smooth by, or (by extension) as if by, rubbing; (countable) an instance of this; a burnishing, a polishing, a shining.

      • With a good burnish, the old table should fetch a higher price.
   5. 8

      Of a person's body

      Of a person's body: to grow large or stout; to fatten, to fill out.

      • A man Grovveth in heigth and length untill he be one and tvventie yeares of age: then beginneth he to ſpread and burniſh in ſquareneſſe.
      • We must not all run up in height, like a hop-pole, but also burnish and spread in breadth: then shall we be well proportioned and complete.
      • A ſlender poet muſt have time to grovv, / And ſpread and burniſh as his brothers do. / […] / Then damn not, but indulge his rude eſſays, / Encourage him, and bloat him up vvith praiſe, […]
   6. 9

      Of a thing

      Of a thing: to increase in size; to expand, to spread out, to swell.

      • My thoughts began to burniſh, ſprout, and ſvvell, / Curling vvith metaphors a plain intention, / Decking the ſenſe, as if it vvere to ſell.

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