Burnish
Burnish ({not transcribed}) , transitive verb
[Old English burnischen, burnissen, burnen, Old French burnir, brunir, to make brown, polish, French brunir, from French brun brown, from Old High German br{not transcribed}n; compare Middle High German 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.
Now the village windows blaze,
Burnished by the setting sun.
Collocations (1)
Burnishing machine , a machine for smoothing and polishing by compression, as in making paper collars.
Burnish , intransitive verb
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.
My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell.
Burnish , noun
The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. — Crashaw