Furb

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. To make an object bright and neat again by rubbing or cleaning it, an old-fashioned term for restoring its shine
2. An archaic way of saying to polish or tidy up something so that it looks fresh and well kept
3. Old-fashioned verb meaning to clean, scour, or smarten an object until it regains its original gloss

Etymology: Furb is a shortened form of "furbish," and the longer word has the traceable past. "Furbish" came into English from Old French "fourbir," meaning to polish or clean up. That French verb goes back to a Germanic root, reconstructed as Frankish "furbjan," with relatives in Old High German meaning to scour or clean. The sense was carried largely by the armourer's trade. A "furbisher" was a craftsman who scoured and polished metal, especially weapons and armour, so the word's original concern was the bright, scoured surface of steel.