Bur"nish (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burnished (&?;); 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&?;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.

The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare
From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air.
Dryden.

Now the village windows blaze,
Burnished by the setting sun.
Cunningham.

Bur"nish, v. i. To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large.

A slender poet must have time to grow,
And spread and burnish as his brothers do.
Dryden.

My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell.
Herbert.

Bur"nish, n. The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. Crashaw.

• to make smooth or shiny by rubbing; to polish; to shine
       
• In pottery, a stone is sometimes used to burnish a pot before firing, giving it a smooth, shiny look.