brilliantine

plural brilliantines

1. countabledateduncountableA hair pomade, making the hair shine brilliantly.

   The hairdresser's shop was warm and glittering. It smelled of soap and burnt paper and wallflower brilliantine.

   1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Revelations”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 267

   1 more example

   "I wouldn't regret it," said Linda, "if I took Eileen by the shoulders and shook her till I shook the rouge off her cheek, and the brilliantine off her hair, and a million mean little subterfuges out of her soul.

   1921, Gene Stratton-Porter, chapter 4, in Her father's daughter, archived from the original on 11 Aug 2014

2. countabledateduncountableA smooth shiny, luxurious fabric, often of alpaca or vicuña.

   Bathing Suit of Brilliantine in Navy Blue and Black, trimmed with white mohair braid and buttons (no bloomers). Special 3.95

   1916 June 11, The New York Times, number 112

present singular third person brilliantines · participle present brilliantining · participle past brilliantined · past brilliantined

1. datedTo apply brilliantine to the hair.

   And the waiter, of course, dips his fingers into the gravy—his nasty, greasy fingers which he is for ever running through his brilliantined hair.

   1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XIV, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz […], →OCLC