French polish
1. A polish for wood-work (see quot. 1874).
| 1819 P.O. Lond. Direct. 367 Wheeler, T., Warehouse for Bentley & Co's French Polish. 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. I. 915 French polish, a solution of resin or gum resin in alcohol or wood naptha. |
2. ‘The smooth glossy surface produced on cabinet-work by the application of this substance’ (Ogilv.).
Hence French-polish v. trans., to make smooth and glossy with French-polish, lit. and fig.; French-polished ppl. a. Also French-polisher, one who French-polishes (furniture, etc.).
| 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz (1837) I. 132 You could..French-polish yourself on any one of the chairs. 1847 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole iv. (1879) 40 Houses of rustling brocade and French-polished mahogany. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, French-polisher. 1863 Kingsley Water Bab. 144 A shoal of porpoises..all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning. 1879 Daily News 7 Apr. 3/1 Their boat..has just been left by the French polisher. |
| punningly. 1886 Ruskin Præterita I. vi. 202 The modern German-plated and French-polished tourist. |