enamel

noun
/ɪˈnæməl/US

Etymology

From Middle English enamel, from Anglo-Norman enamailler, from en- (“in-”) + amailler (“to enamel”), variant of Old French esmailler (“to enamel”), from esmal (“enamel”), from Early Medieval Latin smaltum, from Frankish *smalt, from Proto-Germanic *smeltaną (“to melt, smelt”).

  1. derived from *smeltaną — “to melt, smelt
  2. derived from *smalt
  3. derived from smaltum
  4. derived from esmailler — “to enamel
  5. derived from enamailler
  6. inherited from enamel

Definitions

  1. An opaque, glassy coating baked onto metal or ceramic objects.

  2. A coating that dries to a hard, glossy finish.

    • Against the fence, in a line, were six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums, cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Miss Maudie Atkinson
  3. The hard covering on the exposed part of a tooth.

  4. + 5 more definitions
    1. A cosmetic intended to give the appearance of a smooth and beautiful complexion.

    2. To coat or decorate with enamel.

      • Their plumed helmes are wrought with beaten golde, Their ſwords enameld, and about their neckes Hangs maſſie chaines of golde downe to the waſte, In euery part exceding braue and rich.
    3. To variegate with colours, as if with enamel.

      • Oft he [the serpent] bowed / His turret crest and sleek enamelled neck.
    4. To form a glossy surface like enamel upon.

      • to enamel card paper; to enamel leather or cloth
    5. To disguise with cosmetics, as a woman's complexion.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for enamel. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA