Forms: 4 enaumayl, (4–5 anamal, -el, -yl, 5 annamal), 4–6 enamyl, (5 ennamel), 6–8 enamell, 7 en-, inammel(l, (enamol, inamil, 8 enamle), 4– enamel. [ad. AFr. enamayller, enameler (1313 in Godef.), f. en- (see EN-1) + amayl, AMEL sb.]
1. trans. To inlay or encrust (metal) with a vitreous composition (see ENAMEL sb.) applied to the surface by fusion. Also absol.
In early use chiefly denoting the inlaying or partial covering of a metallic surface in order to ornament it by the contrast between the color of the enamel and that of the metal; afterwards applied to the process of entirely covering metals with enamel, to form a ground for painting in vitrifiable colors, or for any ornamental or economic purpose.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1457. Brende golde … enaumaylde with azer.
c. 1400. Maundev., xix. 219. Foules, alle of gold, & richely wrought & enameled.
1420. in E. E. Wills, 41. & þe cnap of þe couercle ys an-amylyd with blewe.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 634. Anamelede with azoure.
1458. Test. Ebor. (1855), II. 226. Silver that is anameled.
c. 1475[?]. Sqr. lowe Degre, 746. Your chaynes enameled many a folde.
1503. Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830), 96. A payre of smalle knyves inamyled for the Quenes owne use.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 38. They also hang their noses with Rings and Iewels of Gold inammeld and set with stones of worth and lustre.
a. 1691. Boyle, Wks., I. 305 (J.). It were foolish to colour or enamel upon the glasses of telescopes.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxii. 112. A large bouquet of jewels made like natural flowers … well set and enamelled.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 122. It will become fit to enamel with on gold or other metals.
1837. Goring & Pritchard, Microgr., 40. A piece of dial plate enamelled black.
1872. Yeats, Techn. Hist. Comm., 211. Kitchen utensils of tin and iron are enamelled.
b. To inlay or cover metal surfaces with (figures or ornaments of enamel); to portray with enamel.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 538. And therin imagery grauen & enamelyd moste curyouslye.
1558. Lanc. Wills, I. 88. A ring of gold wth letters one ye outside enamyled.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 260. A golden triangle set with rubies, on which is enamelled the image of the virgin Mary, crowned by the holy Trinity.
c. transf. To variegate like enamelled work; to adorn or beautify (any surface) with rich and varied colors.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. vi. 143. The countrey thereof was enamelled with pleasant rivers.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxxix. (1663), 156. The Lord … enammels the Firmament with Stars.
c. 1750. Shenstone, Elegies, xxvi. 4. Spring ne’er enamell’d fairer meads than thine.
1834. Pringle, Afr. Sk., ix. 298. Millions of flowers of the most brilliant hues enamel the earth.
1875. J. H. Bennet, Winter Medit., II. xi. 387. In Corsica the roadside in the valleys … is enamelled with the purple Cyclamen.
† d. fig. To adorn magnificently; to impart an additional splendor to what is already beautiful; to embellish superficially.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s Teares, 63. You [preachers] count it prophane to arte-enamel your speech.
1597. Ingmethorpe, Serm. 2 John, Ep. Ded. You haue enameld, as it were, & embroidered that graund-benefite with infinite other kindnesses.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 35. I might enamel and hatch ouer this device more artificially.
a. 1631. Donne, Serm. (1640), x. 97 b. And being enameled with that beautifull Doctrine of good works too.
1670. Evelyn, in Phil. Trans., V. 1057. How do such Persons enamel their Characters, and adorne their Titles with lasting and permanent honors!
2. In various extended uses (see ENAMELLED).
a. To apply a vitreous glaze by fusion to (surfaces of any kind, e.g., pottery).
b. To cover (any material, e.g., wood, paper, cardboard, leather) with a smooth polished coating resembling enamel.
† c. Used by Holland as transl. of L. inurere: To ‘burn in’ the colors (applied with wax crayons) in encaustic painting. Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 546. As touching the feat of setting colours with wax, and enamelling with fire. Ibid. And to inamel by the means of fire.
d. As a cosmetic process: To apply certain preparations to (the face) in order to impart an appearance of smoothness to the skin.
1868. N. & Q., 68. Enamelling the face. This practice … is partly described in a fragment of Ovid.
