enamel

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
enamel/ɪˈnaml/

▶noun

• 1 an opaque or semi-transparent glassy substance applied to metallic or other hard surfaces for ornament or as a protective coating.

• 2 the hard glossy substance that covers the crown of a tooth.

• 3 a paint that dries to give a smooth, hard coat.

▶verb (enamels, enamelling, enamelled; US enamels, enameling, enameled) (usu. as adj. enamelled) coat or decorate with enamel.

– derivatives
enameller noun.

– origin ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. enamailler, from en- ‘in, on’ + amail ‘enamel’.