Middle English Dictionary Entry
burnishen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | burnishen v. Ppl. burnished, -eshed, -ushed, -essed, burnisht, -esht, -usht, -ist, -est, ybornshed. |
| Etymology | bruniss-, burniss-, extended stem of OF brunir, burnir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. burnen.
1.
(a) To polish (metal, a weapon, armor), burnish; (b) to polish (glass, horn, a gem, etc.); of birds: ~ bek(e, sharpen the beak; of deer: rub the velvet from the horns, polish (the horns); ~ hed, polish (the horns); joc. ~ (someone's) lippes, shave (sb.); (c) fig. to brighten (sth.), make lustrous; clean (sth.) until it shines; (d) to decorate (sth. with shining material), adorn, garnish.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)368 : Þe werst piler on to biholde Was al of burnist gold.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3587 : Þan þay by-gunne aȝen hem fiȝte, With sherpe swerdes ybornsched briȝte.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)77 : As bornyst syluer þe lef on slydez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)212 : He hade..an ax..þe bit burnyst bryȝt.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)582 : Wel bornyst brace vpon his boþe armes.
- c1410 Chaucer CT.NP.(Hrl 7334)B.4054 : And lik þe burnischt [vrr. bornysshed, burnysshed; Heng: burned] gold was his colour.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)32/317 : Þe ferth of siluer burnist bright.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)80/18 : Rubbe it..on clene burnyscht stele.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2272 : Braynes forebrusten thurghe burneste helmes.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)697 : In his clawys a swerd burnyshed bryth.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3622 : Þe barel was al dight & wel y-burnuscht [Petyt: burnessid] fair & bryght.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10693 : Aiax..With bornysshed brand britnet his folke.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.19 : Throȝt basynet and breny, that burnyschet [Dc: burneshed] wos bryȝte..thruȝe his brenys that burneyst were bryȝte.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11426 : A swerd burnysshed cler Somwhyle rusteth.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)990 : As glemande glas burnist broun.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)554 : Þe beryl bornyst byhovez be clene.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)16 : Þei fray here hornes to þe trees..and þan þei go to burnyssh and make hem sharpe.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)17 : Whan þei bene burnysshed at the Coliers, þei bene blak..þan þei burnysshe here heedes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1011 : Till þe Bretons kynge haue burneschte his lyppys And sent his berde to that bolde.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)928 : Buckes ful burnysshid þat baren good grece..Layen lowe in a launde.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.76 : Þe nedy nestlingis..burnisched her beekis and bent to-him-wardis.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)220 : And bornyste quyte watz hyr uesture.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1085 : Þenne watz her blyþe barne burnyst so clene.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)2 : Make ȝow clene; Burnysche bryȝt ȝoure soules blake.
d
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)177 : There come in at þe fyrste course..Bareheuedys þat ware bryghte, burnyste with syluer.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)906 : He brayedez one a bacenett, burneschte of syluer.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)630 : Thare semblede a ful faire menȝhe In baneres burneschid bryghte.
- a1500 Falm.Squire (Lamb 306)278 : He was ware of a pynacle pight..Off clothes of gold burneysshed bright.