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. brn; 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.

The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air. Dryden.

Now the village windows blaze, Burnished by the setting sun. Cunningham.

Burnishing machine, a machine for smoothing and polishing by compression, as in making paper collars.

 

© Webster 1913.


Bur"nish, v. i.

To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large.

A slender poet must have time to grow, And spread and burnish as his brothers do. Dryden.

My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell. Herbert.

 

© Webster 1913.


Bur"nish, n.

The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster.

Crashaw.

 

© Webster 1913.

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