burnished, ppl. a.
(ˈbɜːnɪʃt)
[f. burnish v.1]
1. Made bright and shining as by friction, polished.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. A. 77 As bornyst syluer þe lef onslydez. 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle v. v, Bryght bornyshed gold. c 1470 Henry Wallace ii. 130 Hys byrnyst brand he byrstyt at ye last. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. ii. 196 The Barge..like a burnisht Throne Burnt on the water. a 1775 Pope Odyss. iv. 66. 1789 Wordsw. Even. Walk, The whole wide lake..like a burnished mirror glows. |
b. fig.
| 1853 Bright Sp. India 3 June (1876) 11 The glossed and burnished statement. |
2. transf. Having the appearance of polished metal; bright, shining, glossy.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. A. 220 Bornyste quyte watz hyr uesture. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. i. 2 The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 501 Serpent..With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold. 1827 Keble Chr. Y., Burial of Dead iii, Let some graceful arch be there..With burnish'd ivy for its screen. |
b. Of deer: (see the vb.)
| 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. V, 232 Chase Whole Burnish't Herds. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 422 A Steer..whose Head..with burnish'd Horns begins to spread. |