BURNISHER, a round polished piece of steel, serving to smooth and give a lustre to metals. Of these there are different kinds, of different figures, straight, crooked, and the like. Half burnishers are used to solder silver, as well as to give it a lustre. Burnishers for gold and silver are commonly made of a dog's or wolf's tooth, set in the end of an iron or wooden handle. Of late agates and pebbles have been introduced, which many prefer to the dog's tooth. The burnishers used by engravers in copper, usually serve with one end to burnish, and with the other to scrape. BURNISHING, the art of smoothing or polishing a metalline body, by a brisk rubbing of it with a burnisher. BURNLEY, a market-town of the parish of Whalley, and hundred of Blackburn, in the county of Lancaster, 210 miles from London. The district abounds with coal, the raising of which, as well as stones and slate, is the chief labour in which the inhabitants find occupation. The market is held on Saturday. The population amounted in 1801 to 3305, in 1811 to 4368, and in 1821 to 6378.