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brilliantine

American  
[bril-yuhn-teen] / ˈbrɪl jənˌtin /

noun

  1. an oily preparation used to make the hair lustrous.

  2. a dress fabric resembling alpaca.


brilliantine British  
/ ˈbrɪljənˌtiːn /

noun

  1. a perfumed oil used to make the hair smooth and shiny

  2. a glossy fabric made of mohair and cotton

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of brilliantine

1870–75, < French brillantine. See brilliant, -ine 2


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

I suppose it is a virtue that Merkin’s feisty, brilliantine writing makes much of what seems like little—it certainly means that the essays are adventures, veering in unexpected and profound directions.

From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2014

One man, Diego Ortega, wears a layer of brilliantine so thick that his hair looks like a black patent-leather bathing cap.

From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2013

One high priestess to an Airedale basted her dog with beer and brilliantine to stiffen and shine its coat.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Boston a do-it-yourselfer soaked his roof shingles in a preservative mixture of kerosene and 20 gallons of scented brilliantine, which he got from an aunt who was once in the cosmetics business.

From Time Magazine Archive

The rest of her family was dressed in black or gray, their hair neatly combed, the boys’ heads shimmering with brilliantine.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

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