Obs. except dial. Also 4 and 9 dial. barnish. [Etymology unknown; connection with senses 3 or 4 of prec. seems hardly possible, and is also opposed by the early s.w. and still dial. form barnish. East Anglian dial. uses furnish in same sense.]
1. intr. Of the human frame: To grow plump, or stout, to spread out; to increase in breadth.
1398. Trevisa, Barth De P. R., VI. i. This age is calde adolescencia, for it is full age to gete children, and able to barnisch [1535 burnyshe].
c. 1430. Syr Generides, 780. The childe … began to burnesh and sprede.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 345. A man Groweth in height … vntill hee be one and twentie yeares of age: then beginnes he to spread and burnish in squarenesse.
1640. Fuller, Joseph’s Coat (1867), 101. We must not all run up in height, like a hop-pole, but also burnish and spread in breadth.
1684. Dryden, Davenant’s Circe, Prol. 398. A slender Poet must have time to grow, And spread and burnish as his Brothers do.
1847–78. Halliwell, Barnish, to increase in strength or vigour; to fatten; look ruddy and sleek.
1875. Parish, Sussex Dial., s.v., ‘You burnish nicely,’ meaning, ‘You look well.’
b. transf.
1624. Wotton, Archit., in Reliq. Wotton. (1685), 68. Whether the Fabrick be of a beautiful Stature; whether for the breadth it appear well burnished.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, II. 190. [London] will be found to Burnish round about, to every point of the compasse.
