emery

Etymology

From French émeri, from Old French esmeril, from Italian smeriglio.

noun

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

verb

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