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

It's not French polish, but I've never seen varnish as good as this.

From The Intriguers by Bindloss, Harold

From my heart and soul I wish we had limited the use of French polish to our mahogany!

From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. I by Lever, Charles James

A box containing the following colours in powder will be found of great utility, and when required for use they should be mixed with French polish and applied with a brush.

From French Polishing and Enamelling A Practical Work of Instruction by Bitmead, Richard