furbish

[ fur-bish ]

/ ˈfɜr bɪʃ /

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verb (used with object)

to restore to freshness of appearance or good condition (often followed by up): to furbish a run-down neighborhood; to furbish up one's command of a foreign language.

to polish.

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Origin of furbish

1350–1400; Middle English furbishen<Middle French forbiss-, long stem of forbir to polish, clean <Germanic; compare Old High German furban

OTHER WORDS FROM furbish

fur·bish·er, nounun·fur·bished, adjective

Words nearby furbish

furan, furanose, furazolidone, furbearer, furbelow, furbish, Furbish lousewort, fur brigade, furca, furcate, furcula

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use furbish in a sentence

Also folks cannot neglect their cleanliness and then furbish themselves up in a day.
The Adventures of Harry Revel|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
He found everything but what he wanted most—the code book, by which he could furbish up on dots and dashes.
The Wreck of the Titan|Morgan Robertson
The men were halted outside the town and given time to furbish themselves up for the occasion.
The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 1 (of 10)|James Edward Parrott
It only induces Guido to furbish up his tools for a fresh assault.
The Browning Cyclopdia|Edward Berdoe

Breakfast was a half-hour later, and when that was over there was nothing much to do but furbish up for church.
Left Half Harmon|Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for furbish

furbish

/ (ˈfɜːbɪʃ) /

verb (tr)

to make bright by polishing; burnish

(often foll by up) to improve the appearance or condition of; renovate; restore

Derived forms of furbish

furbisher, noun

Word Origin for furbish

C14: from Old French fourbir to polish, of Germanic origin

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

furbish

Origin of furbish

OTHER WORDS FROM furbish

Words nearby furbish

Words related to furbish

How to use furbish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for furbish

Derived forms of furbish

Word Origin for furbish