Emily Dickinson Lexicon

POL'ISH, v.t. [Fr. polir, polissant; Arm. pouliçza; It. polire or pulire; Sp. polir, pulir; L. polio; Dan. polerer; Sw. polera; Russ. poliruyu; W. caboli, with a prefix; Ar. حَفَلَ chafala, to polish. Qu. its alliance to filc.]

1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; as, to polish glass, marble, metals and the like.
2. To refine; to wear off rudeness, rusticity and coarseness; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners. – Milton. The Greeks were polished by the Asiatics and Egyptians. – S.S. Smith.