French-polishv.
/frɛn(t)ʃ ˈpɒlɪʃ/, U.S. /ˌfrɛn(t)ʃ ˈpɑlɪʃ/ transitive. To make smooth and glossy with French polish. Also figurative and intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with coating or covering materials > work with coating or covering materials [verb (transitive)] > French-polish
French-polish1821
1821 Times 24 Sept. 1/2 (advt.) A fine-toned six-octave Grand Cabinet Pianoforte, neat inlaid mahogany case, with new-invented cylinder front..and French polished.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 148 You could..French-polish yourself on any one of the chairs.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies iv. 144 A shoal of porpoises..all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning.
1921 Times 27 Apr. 4/2 (advt.) Strong, dovetailed case, richly French polished.
1991 DIY: Do it Yourself June 66/5 Old furniture that has previously been French polished often only needs cleaning with white spirit and rag, before being given another ‘rubber’ of French polish.
2001 E. Conover Lathe Bk. viii. 179/1 To French polish in the lathe, apply a coat of the shellac mixture to the work with a small rag or a full brush.
Derivatives
French-ˈpolished adj. finished with French polish (also punningly).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > [adjective] > types of furniture generally
standing1444
plush1615
Queen Elizabeth1673
occasional1749
Adametic1774
French-polished1836
upholstered1837
Adamish1838
Chippendale1855
Queen Anne1863
knock-down1875
Wellington chest1880
Adamesque1881
Sheraton1883
Hepplewhite1897
quaint1897
bombé1904
lowboy1915
Jacobean1918
overstuffed1922
spool1928
Williamsburg1931
thermed1952
stackable1958
Scandinavian1959
wall-to-wall1959
Populuxe1986
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 282 A bar of French-polished mahogany.
1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. vi. 202 The modern German-plated and French-polished tourist.
1996 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) (Nexis) 10 Dec. (Home section) 28 French-polished furniture is easy to look after, and can be kept in top condition with simple maintenance.
2005 P. Smitz et al. Austral. (Lonely Planet) (ed. 13) 661/1 The rooms are spacious and elegant and every room boasts high-quality French-polished woodwork.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.1821