Where does “burnishment” come from?
burnishment (English) comes from English burnish, from Middle English burnysshen, from Old French burnir, from Old French brunir, from Frankish brūnijan, from Proto-Germanic brūnijaną, from Proto-Germanic brūnaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerH- — to pierce; to strike; brown.
burnishment (English): burnishing
Definitions
- burnishing
Ancestry of “burnishment”, step by step
burnishment traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English burnish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | burnish | To make smooth or shiny by rubbing; to polish; to... |
| 2 | Middle English | burnysshen | — |
| 3 | Old French | burnir | Alternative form of brunir |
| 4 | Old French | brunir | to polish |
| 5 | Frankish | brūnijan | to polish, make resplendent |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | brūnijaną | to decorate, tan |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | brūnaz | brown |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰerH- | to pierce; to strike; brown |