Polish
/ˈpɒl.ɪʃ/noun
To make smooth and shiny by rubbing, or to improve something by careful finishing.
Did you know?English polish comes through French from Latin *polire*, “to make smooth,” a root that also gave us *polite* and *policy*—proof that “civilized” language was once about smoothing surfaces.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to strike, thrust, or beat”
Latin
Latin
polire
“to make smooth, polish, finish”
Old French
Old French
polir
“to polish, smooth, make glossy”
Middle English
English
polisshen
“to polish, make smooth or bright”
Modern English
English
polish
“to make smooth and shiny by rubbing, or to refine or improve”