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.