furbish
pronunciation
How to pronounce furbish in British English:
UK ['fɜ:bɪʃ]
How to pronounce furbish in American English:
US [ˈfəbɪʃ]
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- Verb:
- polish and make shiny
Word Origin
- 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, from Proto-Germanic *furbjan "cause to have a (good) appearance" (compare Old High German furban "to polish"), from PIE *prep- "to appear," which is perhaps identical with *kwrep- "body, appearance" (see corporeal). Related: Furbished; furbishing. The Old English cognate of the Germanic verbs, feormian (with intrusive -m-) meant "clean, rub bright, polish."
Example
- 1. I wish to furbish up the russian I learnt at college .
- 2. I wish to furbish up the french I learned at collage .
- 3. A married woman returning to teaching needs to furbish up her old skills .
- 4. You need to furbish up your french before you go to france .
- 5. If you furbish up these old chairs , you 'll have a better chance of selling them .