sheen / shēn/ • n. [in sing.] a soft luster on a surface: black crushed velvet with a slight sheen | fig. the sheen of outward party support in China. • v. poetic/lit. shine or cause to shine softly: [tr.] men entered with rain sheening their steel helms | [intr.] her black hair sheened in the sun.

sheen (poet.) beautiful, bright, resplendent. OE. (Angl.) sċēne, (WS.) sċīene = OS., OHG. skōni (Du. schoon, G. schön), Goth. skauns :- Gmc. *skauniz, *skaunjaz, f. *skau- behold (see SHOW).
Hence sb. brightness. XVII. Apprehended as abstr. noun of SHINE; whence sheeny (-Y1) XVII.