1.  A polish for wood-work (see quot. 1874).

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1819.  P. O. Lond. Direct., 367. Wheeler, T., Warehouse for Bentley & Co’s French Polish.

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1874.  Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 915/1. French polish. A solution of resin or gum resin in alcohol or wood naphtha.

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  2.  ‘The smooth glossy surface produced on cabinet-work by the application of this substance’ (Ogilv.).

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  Hence French-polish v. trans., to make smooth and glossy with French-polish, lit. and fig.; French-polished ppl. a. Also French-polisher, one who French-polishes (furniture, etc.).

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1836.  Dickens, Sk. Boz (1837), I. 132. You could see yourself in all the tables, and French-polish yourself on any one of the chairs.

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1847.  Alb. Smith, Chr. Tadpole, iv. (1879), 40. Perfect houses of rustling brocade and French-polished mahogany.

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1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, French-polisher, a varnisher and cleaner of tables, chairs, and other articles of cabinet furniture.

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1863.  Kingsley, Water Bab., 144. Then there came by a shoal of porpoises, rolling as they went—papas, and mammas, and little children—and all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning.

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1879.  Daily News, 7 April, 3/1. Their boat … has just been left by the French polisher.

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  punningly.

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1886.  Ruskin, Præterita, I. vi. 202. There is something peculiarly delightful—nay, delightful inconceivably by the modern German-plated and French-polished tourist, in passing through the streets of a foreign city without understanding a word that anybody says!

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