Kurt Sperry wrote:
"I think of enamelling as the fusing of a vitreous layer to a steel substrate by heat, not merely spraying on epoxy or other type conventional paint. The Brits seem to me to perhaps use the term "enamelling" for the latter. Is this just a Anglicism or do they actual "enamel" frames in England? I've got an enamelled stove and that is 1,000 times tougher than any painted finish I've ever seen. An actual enamelled finish would be pretty cool if it wasn't too heavy and you didn't have to overheat the frame to fuse the enamel..."
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Kurt,
I think "enamel" (both US & UK) just refers to paint (traditionally oil-based, though now there is latex enamel, as well). There are also common terms used to distinguish "baked-on enamel" (rapid heat dried?) or a "Porcelain enamel" finish - as was used on stoves - which would rival modern powder coat finishes. And I think the latter coatings actually contained maybe feldspar and various hardening minerals in the emulsion... but, basic enamel I just think of as... "glossy paint" which dries to a reasonably durable and hard finish.
I think you're right in a way. Don't have a dictionary at hand, but originally it may well have actually referred to a sort of "melting-on" process for a glassy [sic] opaque coating - such as you might find with colors painted onto porcelain china dinnerware and then baked in.
And, then there's tooth enamel...
And, lets not forget the now far more commonly seen French word for it = "email" :-)
Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA