\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.
{Burnishing machine}, a machine for smoothing and polishing
   by compression, as in making paper collars.

\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.