Bur″nish (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Burnished (�); p. pr. & vb. n.Burnishing.] [OE. burnischen, burnissen, burnen, OF. burnir, brunir, to make brown, polish, F. brunir, fr. F. brun brown, fr. OHG. br�n; cf. MHG. briunen to make brown, polish. See Brown, a.] To cause to shine; to make smooth and bright; to polish; specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and smooth; as, to burnish brass or paper.
The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare
From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air.
Dryden.
Now the village windows blaze,
Burnished by the setting sun.
Cunningham.
Burnishing machine, a machine for smoothing and polishing by compression, as in making paper collars.