varnish

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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)

  1. A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to leave a hard, transparent, glossy film.
  2. 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
  3. (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.
  4. (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.

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

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  1. (intransitive) To apply varnish.
  2. (transitive) To cover up with varnish.
  3. (transitive) To gloss over a defect.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Anagrams


Manx

Etymology

Borrowed from English varnish.

Noun

varnish f (genitive singular varnish, plural varnishyn)

  1. varnish

Synonyms

Derived terms