emery

From French émeri, from Old French esmeril, from Late Latin smericulum, from Ancient Greek σμῆρις (smêris, “powder used for polishing”) (alternative spelling: σμύρις (smúris)).

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛməɹi/

emery (usually uncountable, plural emeries)

1. (mineralogy) An impure type of corundum, often used for sanding or polishing.
   • 1884, Samuel Smiles, Men of Invention and Industry

     It took me from nine to ten days to grind and polish it ready for parabolising and silvering. I did this by hand labour with the aid of emery, but without a lathe. I finally used rouge instead of emery in grinding down the glass, until I could see my face in the mirror quite plain.

emery (third-person singular simple present emeries, present participle emerying, simple past and past participle emeried)

1. (transitive) To sand or polish with emery.
2. (transitive) To coat with emery.

• Meyer