enameln.
/ᵻˈnam(ə)l/, U.S. /ᵻˈnæməl/, /ɛˈnæməl/ 1.
a. A semi-transparent or opaque composition of the nature of glass, applied by fusion to metallic surfaces, either to ornament them in various colours, or to form a surface for encaustic painting; also (in 19th cent.) used as a lining for culinary vessels, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > enamelling > [noun] > enamel
amelc1330
enamel1426
nemelc1450
esmayle1589
anmaile1600
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > plated or coated metal > [noun] > plating or coating applied to metal > vitreous coating
enamel1426
enamelurec1430
enamellingc1449
fire amelc1500
email1594
stove enamel1907
porcelain enamel1924
stoved enamel1926
1426 J. Lydgate Pilgrimage Life Man 6686 Loo, her,..Off the syluer bellys clere, And off the namel ek yfere.
1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 35 A ruby with iiij labellys of white innamyl.
1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 220 All works of gold, siluer, and inammell.
1662 J. Evelyn Sculptura iv. 36 Silver, to fill with a certain Encaustic or black Enamel.
1712 J. Browne tr. P. Pomet et al. Compl. Hist. Druggs I. 193 Being finely ground, it is used by the Goldsmiths for Enamel.
1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 10 Wild hyacinths..spread like patches of blue enamel.
1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) I. 277 The enamel of these saucepans is quite free from lead.
b. figurative; formerly with notion of an additional or perfecting adornment; now chiefly with reference to the hardness and polish of enamel.
ΚΠ
1678 Bp. J. Taylor Serm. Ded. Those Truths..are the enamel and beauty of our Churches.
a1680 S. Charnock Expos. Psalm cxxxv. 13 in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1886) VII. 166 Unchangeableness is the thread that runs through the whole web; it is the enamel of all the rest.
1825 T. B. Macaulay Milton in Edinb. Rev. Aug. 324 None of the hard and brilliant enamel of Petrarch in the style.
1858 N. Hawthorne Fr. & Ital. Jrnls. II. 35 A genuine love of painting and sculpture..formed a fine and hard enamel over their character.
c. A glassy ‘bead’ formed by the blowpipe.
d. Applied more generally to any composition employed to form a smooth hard coating on any surface (e.g. on pottery, wood, leather, paper, etc.). Cf. enamel v. 2. Also used attributively, as enamel paint.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > painting or coating materials > [noun] > paint > types of
whitewash?1584
rough stuff1841
enamel paint1865
tempera1883
surfacer1885
Bitumastic1889
plastic paint1925
spray-paint1928
emulsion paint1939
Snowcem1939
Day-Glo1944
Artex1952
latex1954
matt1977
1865 M. W. Brown U.S. Patent 49,708 2/2 In the use of my enamel-paint for the purposes of covering iron, steel, or other solid metallic substances..I apply a heat to the articles so covered or coated..not to exceed 300° Fahrenheit.
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 623/2 Enamel paint..for general decorative purposes.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XX. 458/1 The term ‘enamel paint’ was first given to a compound of zinc white, petrol and resin, which possessed on drying a hard glossy surface. The name is now applied to any coloured paint of this nature.
1946 M. Dickens Happy Prisoner viii. 153 She had managed to buy a whole range of enamel paints.
e. U.S. (See quot.)
ΚΠ
1832 Deb. Congr. 13 Nov. App. 31 The last layer [of the road] which will make up the nine inches, and will constitute its enamel, or wearing surface.
2. Physiology. [after French émail.] The substance which forms the hard glossy coating of teeth; the similar substance forming the coating of the bony scales of ganoid fishes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > substance or parts of teeth > [noun] > enamel
enamel1718
the world > animals > fish > class Osteichthyes or Teleostomi > subclass Actinopterygii > [noun] > superorder Ganoidei > member of > parts of
fulcrum1771
fulcre1793
enamel1847
1718 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt Relig. Philosopher I. iii. ii. 27 The Teeth are surrounded with a hard Substance,..the Enamel.
1782 Monro's Anat. Human Bones (new ed.) 114 Each tooth is composed of its cortex, or enamel, and an internal bony substance.
1847 W. B. Carpenter Zool.: Systematic Acct. II. §586 Fishes of this order [Ganoidians] are covered by angular scales, composed internally of bone, and coated with enamel.
1863 London Rev. 10 Jan. 35/2 To nations good manners are what modesty is to chastity, or enamel to the teeth.
1873 St. G. Mivart Lessons Elem. Anat. vii. 250 The enamel is the hardest structure in the human body and almost entirely a mineral, containing but two per cent. of animal substance.
3. An artistic work executed in enamel; an enamel-painting.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > enamelling > [noun] > work
enamel1762
enamel-painting1847
1762 H. Walpole Let. 6 June (1903) III. 95 I have not lost one enamel, nor bronze.
1861 Sat. Rev. 7 Sept. 253 The leather drinking-cup, helmet, and enamels, bespeak a thegn of high rank.
1863 G. G. Scott Gleanings Westm. Abbey 61 The execution of these enamels is truly exquisite.
1865 Reader Mar. 278/2 Henry Bone..for a single enamel..is said to have received 2,200 guineas.
4. transferred (poetic and rhetorical) Applied to any smooth and lustrous surface-colouring (sometimes with added notion of varied colours); esp. to verdure or flowers on the ground.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [noun] > glossy surface
enamel1600
1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne iv. xciv. 74 Downe from her eies welled the pearles round, Vpon the bright Ennamell of her face.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. i. sig. Aa2 The various and curious Enammel of the Meadows.
1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision I. iv. 17 On the green enamel of the plain Were shown me the great spirits.
1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 8 The bubbles of the latest wave Fresh pearls to their enamel gave.
1864 W. W. Skeat tr. J. L. Uhland Songs & Ballads 51 Leaf's enamel, blossom's beauty.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
enamel-colour n.
ΚΠ
1738 G. Smith tr. Laboratory ii. 36 To prepare the Flux for Enamel Colours.
1784 S. Jones Let. 8 Mar. in J. Wedgwood Sel. Lett. (1965) 288 A man that can make as good..Enamel coulers as any man in the country.
enamel-lining n.
ΚΠ
1884 Daily News 24 July 6/3 The enamel linings of cooking utensils used in the Royal Navy.
enamel-manufactory n.
ΚΠ
1754 R. Pococke Trav. (1889) II. 69 The china and enamel manufactory at Battersea.
enamel-painting n.
enamel-plate n.
ΚΠ
1854 R. Owen Struct. Skeleton & Teeth in Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 267 The enamel plates in the elephant's grinder.
enamel-powder n.
ΚΠ
1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) II. 273 The enamel powder is spread with a spatula.
enamel-work n.
ΚΠ
1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. I. 422 An enamel-work of the ancient arms of Florence.
a1878 G. G. Scott Lect. Mediæval Archit. (1879) I. 312 Of enamel-work you have splendid relics in the monument of William de Valence.
C2.
enamel-cell n. Also in dental anatomy, one of the cells of the enamel-organ, sometimes called collectively ‘enamel-membrane’.
enamel-cuticle n. that which covers the outer surface of the enamel.
enamel-germ n. a portion of thickened epithelium, which afterwards develops into the
enamel-kiln n. a kiln for firing porcelain that has been printed on the glaze.
ΚΠ
1774 J. Wedgwood Let. 18 Dec. in Sel. Lett. (1965) 170 Mr. Rhodes must fix them with a little Borax &c in his enamel Kiln.
1875 Guide Royal Porcelain Wks. 19 Its true character is revealed after it has passed through the enamel kiln.
enamel-organ n.
ΚΠ
1876 T. Bryant Pract. Surg. (ed. 2) I. xiii. 536 Enamel developed from the ‘enamel organ’.
enamel-painting n. the production of a picture by fusing vitrifiable colours laid on a metal surface.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > enamelling > [noun] > work
enamel1762
enamel-painting1847
1847 Ld. Lindsay Sketches Hist. Christian Art I. Introd. 209 Miniature and enamel painting.
1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 7) II. 272 All enamel paintings are in fact, done on either copper or gold.
enamel-paper n. paper covered with a glazed metallic coating.
enamel prism n. each of the microscopic rods of which the enamel of the teeth is composed.
ΚΠ
1877 Encycl. Brit. VII. 234/1 The enamel is composed of microscopic rods,—the enamel fibres, or enamel prisms.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
enamelv.
/ɛˈnaməl/ 1. † d. figurative. To adorn magnificently; to impart an additional splendour to what is already beautiful; to embellish superficially.
a. transitive. To inlay or encrust (metal) with a vitreous composition (see enamel n.) applied to the surface by fusion. Also absol.In early use chiefly denoting the inlaying or partial covering of a metallic surface in order to ornament it by the contrast between the colour of the enamel and that of the metal; afterwards applied to the process of entirely covering metals with enamel, to form a ground for painting in vitrifiable colours, or for any ornamental or economic purpose.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > protect metal with coating
enamelc1400
passivize1910
passivate1913
Parkerize1922
bonderize1938
Barff1951
metallide1967
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > enamelling > enamel [verb (transitive)]
enamelc1400
annealc1440
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1457 Brende golde..enaumaylde with azer.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. xix. 219 Foules, alle of gold, & richely wrought & enameled.
1420 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 41 & þe cnap of þe couercle ys an-amylyd with blewe.
a1440 Sir Degrev. 634 Anamelede with azoure.
1458 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1855) II. 226 Silver that is anameled.
?c1475 Sqr. lowe Degre 746 Your chaynes enameled many a folde.
1503 in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 96 A payre of smalle knyves inamyled for the Quenes awne use.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 38 Iewels of Gold inammeld and set with stones of worth.
a1691 R. Boyle Wks. (1772) I. 305 It were foolish to colour or enamel upon the glasses of telescopes.
1716–18 Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. I. xxxii. 112 A large bouquet of jewels made like natural flowers..well set and enamelled.
1738 G. Smith tr. Laboratory ii. 44 It will become..fit to enamel with upon Gold or other Metals.
1837 C. R. Goring & A. Pritchard Micrographia 40 A piece of dial plate enamelled black.
1872 J. Yeats Techn. Hist. Commerce 211 Kitchen utensils of tin and iron are enamelled.
b. To inlay or cover metal surfaces with (figures or ornaments of enamel); to portray with enamel.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > enamelling > enamel [verb (transitive)] > depict with enamel
annealc1440
enamela1513
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. clii And therin Imagery grauen & enamelyd moste curyouslye.
1558 in G. J. Piccope Lancs. & Cheshire Wills (1857) I. 88 A ring of gold wth letters one ye outside enamyled.
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. IV. 93 A golden triangle..on which is enamelled the image of the virgin Mary.
c. transferred. To variegate like enamelled work; to adorn or beautify (any surface) with rich and varied colours.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > variegation > variegate [verb (transitive)]
chequer?a1400
fleckc1430
engrail1483
shoot1532
begary1538
intermingle1553
enchase1590
diaper1592
sinew1592
motley1602
intercolour1607
damask1610
particolour1610
inshade1613
freta1616
enamel1650
discolour1656
variegatea1728
jasper1799
intershoot1845
patchwork1853
pattern1898
strand1914
harlequin-
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. vi. 143 The countrey thereof was enamelled with pleasant rivers.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures (1663) xxxix. 156 The Lord..enamels the Firmament with stars.
c1750 W. Shenstone Elegies xxvi. 4 Spring ne'er enamell'd fairer meads than thine.
1834 T. Pringle Afr. Sketches ix. 298 Millions of flowers of the most brilliant hues enamel the earth.
1870 J. H. Bennet Winter & Spring Mediterranean x. 319 In Corsica the road-side in the valleys..is enamelled with the purple Cyclamen.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautify [verb (transitive)] > invest with splendour > render magnificent
magnifya1382
adornc1425
emperiala1475
emblazea1529
enamel1593
magnificate1598
aggrandize1709
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares 63 You [preachers] count it prophane to arte-enamel your speech.
1598 T. Ingmethorpe Serm. 2 John Ep. Ded. You have enameld, as it were, and embroiderd that graund benefite with infinite other kindnesses.
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 23 I might enamell and hatch ouer this deuice more artificially.
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1957) III. 377 And being enameled with that beautifull Doctrine of good works too.
1670 J. Evelyn in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 5 1057 How do such Persons enamel their Characters, and adorne their Titles with lasting and permanent honors!
2. In various extended uses (see enamelled adj.). † c. Used by Holland as transl. of Latin inurere: To ‘burn in’ the colours (applied with wax crayons) in encaustic painting. Obsolete.
a. To apply a vitreous glaze by fusion to (surfaces of any kind, e.g. pottery).
b. To cover (any material, e.g. wood, paper, cardboard, leather) with a smooth polished coating resembling enamel.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with coating or covering materials > work with coating or covering materials [verb (transitive)] > cover with coating resembling enamel
enamel1889
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 17 Oct. 1/3 The craze for enamelled furniture and enamelled nick-nacks gets worse and worse. Everybody enamels. Bachelors enamel their own furniture and rooms.
1937 Discovery Feb. 57/2 Enamelled kitchen stoves.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > painting > painting according to medium or technique > paint according to medium or technique [verb (intransitive)] > other techniques
enamel1601
velvet1612
to paint by number(s)1953
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 546 As touching the feat of setting colours with wax, and enamelling with fire.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 546 And to inamel by the means of fire.
d. As a cosmetic process: To apply certain preparations to (the face) in order to impart an appearance of smoothness to the skin.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the skin or complexion > beautify (the skin or complexion) [verb (transitive)] > paint or colour
painta1382
farcec1400
farda1450
parget1581
complexion1612
surfle1633
cerusea1640
petre1656
lacquer1688
whitewasha1704
enamel1804
peachify1853
to mug up1859
highlight1935
1804 M. Wilmot Let. 9 Apr. in M. Wilmot & C. Wilmot Russ. Jrnls. (1934) i. 92 The fashion of their country ordains that every woman shou'd enamel their face.
1868 Notes & Queries 68 Enamelling the face. This practice..is partly described in a fragment of Ovid.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
<
n.1426
v.c1400