varnish
English
Etymology
From Middle English vernisch, from Old French vernis, from Medieval Latin vernix, veronix, from Byzantine Greek Βερενίκη (Bereníkē, “Berenice”), a town in Cyrenaica.
Pronunciation
Audio (US): (file)
Noun
varnish (countable and uncountable, plural varnishes)
- A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to leave a hard, transparent, glossy film.
- Anything resembling such a paint; glossy appearance.
- (Can we date this quote by Macaulay and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- the varnish of the holly and ivy
- (Can we date this quote by Macaulay and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- (by extension) A deceptively showy appearance.
- (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- And set a double varnish on the fame / The Frenchman gave you.
- (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- (rail transport, US, informal, dated) a passenger train, probably derived from the varnished passenger cars used at one time.
- 1959, "Steam's Finest Hour" edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co.
- Every transcontinental but two settled on the simple articulated for freight service, and all of them coupled their varnish to the 4-8-4.
- 1959, "Steam's Finest Hour" edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Related terms
Translations
transparent paint
|
anything resembling such a paint
a deceptively showy appearance
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Verb
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- (intransitive) To apply varnish.
- (transitive) To cover up with varnish.
- (transitive) To gloss over a defect.
Derived terms
Translations
to apply varnish
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to cover up with varnish
|
to gloss over a defect
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Anagrams
Manx
Etymology
Borrowed from English varnish.
Noun
varnish f (genitive singular varnish, plural varnishyn)
Synonyms
Derived terms
- varnish ingney (“nail varnish”)
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