Burnish (&unr_;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burnished (&unr_;); 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&unr_;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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Burnish, n. The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. Crashaw.
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