furbish
[fur-bish]
- 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for furbished
Historical Examples
I dare say it was sad stuff, furbished up at a moment's notice.
“It is such a pretty room if it were only furbished off a bit,” Tom said once.
Our BessieRosa Nouchette Carey
His mother marveled why Saul furbished himself up so carefully that evening.
The IncendiaryW. A. (William Augustine) Leahy
The armourer had furbished up the old halberds of the Company, which, with the banners, are quite significant features.
Franz HalsEdgcumbe Staley
The case is new, has the smell of new leather; and the diamond clasp looks recently furbished, even to a little chalk about it.
Penelope BrandlingVernon Lee
furbish
- to make bright by polishing; burnish
- (often foll by up) to improve the appearance or condition of; renovate; restore
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for furbished
furbish
v.
late 14c. (implied mid-13c. in surname Furbisher), from Old French forbiss-, present participle stem of forbir "to polish, burnish; mend, repair" (12c., Modern French fourbir), from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German furban "to polish"), from PIE root *prep- "to appear." Related: Furbished; furbishing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper