bestrijk

Bestrijk is a Dutch verb meaning to coat or cover a surface with a layer of a substance, such as paint, varnish, plaster, or wax. The action is performed to protect, decorate, or modify a surface, for example by applying a layer to a wall, wood, metal, or other material. The term is common in construction, carpentry, metalworking, and manufacturing, and appears in instructions and technical specifications.

The infinitive form is bestrijken. Bestrijk appears in imperative constructions, for example in instructions such as “Bestrijk het oppervlak.” The related noun bestrijking denotes the coating itself or the process of applying it. In practice, bestrijking can refer to a finish or layer that provides protection, color, or texture.

Etymology and related terms: The word is built with the prefix be- attached to bestrijken, and is cognate with German bestreichen, meaning to brush over or spread onto a surface. The concept of applying a coating is shared across several languages and describes a wide range of finishes, from paint and varnish to plaster and glaze.

See also: bestrijking, coating, paint, varnish, plastering, surface finishing.