from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare
From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air.
--Dryden.
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Now the village windows blaze,
Burnished by the setting sun. --Cunningham.
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{Burnishing machine}, a machine for smoothing and polishing
by compression, as in making paper collars.
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