brilliantine

[ bril-yuh n-teen ]

/ ˈbrɪl yənˌtin /

an oily preparation used to make the hair lustrous.

a dress fabric resembling alpaca.

Origin of brilliantine

1870–75, Americanism; < French brillantine. See brilliant, -ine²

bril·lian·tined, adjective

There was his little moustache-brush, and phial of brilliantine to burnish it.

Diana Tempest, Volume III (of 3) |Mary Cholmondeley
There should be about this individual a general atmosphere of brilliantine, clothes and jewelry.

Fair Harbor |Joseph Crosby Lincoln
What a gorgeous Nut—all brilliantine, brown polish, and brasso!

John Brown |Captain R. W. Campbell
He liked the way she had her hair arranged, wondered if it was brilliantine that made it glisten so.

Flappers and Philosophers |F. Scott Fitzgerald

The barber seemed to replace the pot of brilliantine with regret.

Poor Relations |Compton Mackenzie

brilliantine

/ (ˈbrɪljənˌtiːn) /

a perfumed oil used to make the hair smooth and shiny

mainly US a glossy fabric made of mohair and cotton

C19: from French, from brillant shining