French polish

¹ American  

noun

1. a furniture finish, consisting of shellac dissolved in spirits.

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French-polish ² American  

[french-pol-ish] / ˈfrɛntʃˈpɒl ɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to finish or treat (a piece of furniture) with French polish.

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French polish ¹ British  

noun

1. a varnish for wood consisting of shellac dissolved in alcohol

2. the gloss finish produced by repeated applications of this polish

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French-polish ² British  

verb

1. to treat with French polish or give a French polish (to)

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Etymology

Origin of French polish¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Origin of French-polish²

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Dr. Walter Damrosch started the idea, after running a wartime school in which U. S. bandmasters took a high French polish.

From Time Magazine Archive

In dress, Mr. Waffles was the light, butterfly order of sportsman—once-round tie, French polish, paper boots, and so on.

From Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour by Surtees, Robert Smith

His shoes shone with a lustre beyond French polish, and his hat was brushed till not a wind dared to approach it.

From Auriol or, The Elixir of Life by Ainsworth, W. Harrison

Truly the old Edinburgh Assembly Rooms had their secrets, and contained exciting enough elements under their formal French polish.

From Girlhood and Womanhood The Story of some Fortunes and Misfortunes by Tytler, Sarah

Think of our dreadful slippers! powdered with pearls and all sorts of trash of that kind, by the side of that lovely French polish.'

From Tancred Or, The New Crusade by Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield