furbish
[ fur-bish ]
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.
Origin of furbish
11350–1400; 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, noun
- un·fur·bished, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use furbish in a sentence
His suit was gray, and though somewhat worn and unfurbished, was evidently of fine quality.
The Wrong Woman | Charles D. Stewart
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
Origin of furbish
1C14: from Old French fourbir to polish, of Germanic origin
Derived forms of furbish
- furbisher, noun
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
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