# enamel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪˈnæməl/ · frequency rank #18,300

## Definitions
1. An opaque, glassy coating baked onto metal or ceramic objects.
2. A coating that dries to a hard, glossy finish.
3. The hard covering on the exposed part of a tooth.
4. A cosmetic intended to give the appearance of a smooth and beautiful complexion.

## Etymology
From Middle English enamel, from Anglo-Norman enamailler, from en- (“in-”) + amailler (“to enamel”), variant of Old French esmailler (“to enamel”), from esmal (“enamel”), from Early Medieval Latin smaltum, from Frankish *smalt, from Proto-Germanic *smeltaną (“to melt, smelt”).

## Easily confused with
- **Eames** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eames-vs-enamel)
- **easel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/easel-vs-enamel)

## Common misspellings (8)
`eanmel`, `enaeml`, `enamell`, `enamle`, `enammel`, `enmael`, `ennamel`, `neamel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/enamel