1. A polish for wood-work (see quot. 1874).
1819. P. O. Lond. Direct., 367. Wheeler, T., Warehouse for Bentley & Cos French Polish.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 915/1. French polish. A solution of resin or gum resin in alcohol or wood naphtha.
2. The smooth glossy surface produced on cabinet-work by the application of this substance (Ogilv.).
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.).
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.
1847. Alb. Smith, Chr. Tadpole, iv. (1879), 40. Perfect houses of rustling brocade and French-polished mahogany.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, French-polisher, a varnisher and cleaner of tables, chairs, and other articles of cabinet furniture.
1863. Kingsley, Water Bab., 144. Then there came by a shoal of porpoises, rolling as they wentpapas, and mammas, and little childrenand all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning.
1879. Daily News, 7 April, 3/1. Their boat has just been left by the French polisher.
punningly.
1886. Ruskin, Præterita, I. vi. 202. There is something peculiarly delightfulnay, 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!