French-polish

Then there came by a shoal of porpoises, rolling as they went — papas, and mammas, and little children — and all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning; and they sighed so softly as they came by, that Tom took courage to speak to them: but all they answered was,

The Water Babies 2007

Then there came by a shoal of porpoises, rolling as they went -- papas, and mammas, and little children -- and all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning; and they sighed so softly as they came by, that Tom took courage to speak to them; but all they answered was, "Hush, hush, hush;" for that was all they had learnt to say.

Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 2 Charles Herbert Sylvester

None of your new, cheap, thinly-veneered, blown-together rubbish, smelling of shavings and French-polish.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, February 21, 1891 Various

The horses were out by this time; the groom was walking Rainbow up and down; he'd put a regular French-polish on his coat, and the old horse was arching his neck and chawing his bit as if he thought he was going to start for the Bargo Town Plate.

Robbery under Arms; a story of life and adventure in the bush and in the Australian goldfields Rolf Boldrewood 1870

He agreed to take the old horse, the week before the races, and give him a last bit of French-polish if we'd keep him in steady work till then.

Robbery under Arms; a story of life and adventure in the bush and in the Australian goldfields Rolf Boldrewood 1870

Then there came by a shoal of porpoises, rolling as they went -- papas, and mammas, and little children -- and all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning; and they sighed so softly as they came by, that Tom took courage to speak to them: but all they answered was, "Hush, hush, hush"; for that was all they had learnt to say.

The Water-Babies A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby Charles Kingsley 1847

Then there came by a shoal of porpoises, rolling as they went -- papas, and mammas, and little children -- and all quite smooth and shiny, because the fairies French-polish them every morning; and they sighed so softly as they came by, that Tom took courage to speak to them: but all they answered was, "Hush, hush, hush;" for that was all they had learnt to say.

The Water-Babies Charles Kingsley 1847

The bell-lamp in the passage looked as clear as a soap-bubble; you could see yourself in all the tables, and French-polish yourself on any one of the chairs.

Sketches by Boz, illustrative of everyday life and every-day people Charles Dickens 1841

French-polish if we’d keep him in steady work till then.

Robbery Under Arms 2004

The horses were out by this time; the groom was walking Rainbow up and down; he’d put a regular French-polish on his coat, and the old horse was arching his neck and chawing his bit as if he thought he was going to start for the Bargo Town Plate.

Robbery Under Arms 2004