enamel

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Pronunciation

[edit]

Etymology 1

[edit]

From Middle English enamel, from Anglo-Norman enamailler, from en- (in-) + amailler (to enamel), variant of Old French esmailler (to enamel), from esmal (enamel), from Early Medieval Latin smaltum, from Frankish *smalt, from Proto-Germanic *smeltaną (to melt, smelt).

Noun

[edit]

enamel (countable and uncountable, plural enamels)

  1. An opaque, glassy coating baked onto metal or ceramic objects.
  2. A coating that dries to a hard, glossy finish.
  3. The hard covering on the exposed part of a tooth.
  4. A cosmetic intended to give the appearance of a smooth and beautiful complexion.
Derived terms
[edit]
Translations
[edit]
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Etymology 2

[edit]

From Middle English enamelen, from the noun (see above).

Verb

[edit]

enamel (third-person singular simple present enamels, present participle (US) enameling or (UK) enamelling, simple past and past participle (US) enameled or (UK) enamelled)

  1. (transitive) To coat or decorate with enamel.
    • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. [] The First Part [], 2nd edition, part 1, London: [] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, [], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
      Their plumed helmes are wrought with beaten golde,
      Their ſwords enameld, and about their neckes
      Hangs maſſie chaines of golde downe to the waſte,
      In euery part exceding braue and rich.
  2. (transitive) To variegate with colours, as if with enamel.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. [], London: [] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker []; [a]nd by Robert Boulter []; [a]nd Matthias Walker, [], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: [], London: Basil Montagu Pickering [], 1873, →OCLC:
      Oft he [the serpent] bowed / His turret crest and sleek enamelled neck.
  3. (transitive) To form a glossy surface like enamel upon.
    to enamel card paper; to enamel leather or cloth
  4. (transitive) To disguise with cosmetics, as a woman's complexion.
Translations
[edit]

References

[edit]

Anagrams

[edit]