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enamelling

The process of applying enamel to a surface — in metalwork, ceramics, or decorative art.

ɛˈnæməlɪŋ137 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
2 definitions
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Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 28, 2026UK

The process of applying enamel to a surface — in metalwork, ceramics, or decorative art. A layer of vitreous glass-based coating is fused to metal or pottery through high heat, creating a durable, colorful surface. As a noun, 'an enamelling' refers to a single application or instance of this work. Enamelling is both an industrial process and a fine craft tradition.

The enamelling on the antique brooch had survived intact for over a hundred years.
Origin: From 'enamel' (from Old French esmail, from Frankish *smalt) + '-ing,' the gerund/verbal noun suffix. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents

"enamelling" means: The process of applying enamel to a surface — in metalwork, ceramics, or decorative art. A layer of vitreous glass-based coating is fused to.... There is a drug-related reference, so this is one worth noticing without overreacting. Many teens encounter such vocabulary through music, film and friends without any direct involvement. A neutral, curious conversation about where they heard the term and what they understand by it is far more useful than a confrontation. Watch for repeated context, not a single word.

For ESL learners

"enamelling" means: The process of applying enamel to a surface — in metalwork, ceramics, or decorative art. A layer of vitreous glass-based coating is fused to.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

An application of enamel.

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For specific readers

"enamelling" means: The process of applying enamel to a surface — in metalwork, ceramics, or decorative art. A layer of vitreous glass-based coating is fused to.... There is a drug-related reference, so this is one worth noticing without overreacting. Many teens encounter such vocabulary through music, film and friends without any direct involvement. A neutral, curious conversation about where they heard the term and what they understand by it is far more useful than a confrontation. Watch for repeated context, not a single word.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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