See Also: Varnish(medicine)
varnish(1)(dictionary)
varnish(2)(dictionary)
desert varnish(encyclopedia)
varnish 1, noun(dictionary)
varnish 2, verb(dictionary)

varnish(1) (iou)



varnish noun. Also vernish. ME.
[Old & mod. French vernis from medieval Latin veronix, -ic- fragrant resin, sandarac, or medieval Greek berenike, prob. from the town Berenice in Cyrenaica. In branch III from the verb.]
I.
Resin dissolved in a liquid (usu. an oil or spirit) and used for spreading over a surface to form a hard shiny transparent coating for protection or ornament. Formerly also, dry resin for making this. ME.
A. S. Byatt Portraits..blackened by..thickened varnish.
b. A particular preparation of this kind. M17.
Which? External varnishes which give a transparent finish are..not as durable.
c. A preparation of this kind spread on a surface; a coating or surface so formed. M17.
Nature The varnish on a Stradivarius violin. transf.: Sir W. Scott A black varnish of soot.
A medical or cosmetic preparation resembling a varnish, for application to the skin. rare. L16.
b. = nail varnish s.v. NAIL noun. M20.
Country Living By the 1920's..pink varnish had become..part of good grooming.
A preparation of boiled oil (or other substances) used in the making of printers' ink. Now rare. E19.
A resinous deposit formed in engines by the oxidation of fuel and lubricating oils. M20.
II. fig.
An external appearance or display of some quality without underlying reality; (a) superficial gloss, (an) outward show; (a) pretence. Cf. VENEER noun 4. Freq. foll. by of. M16.
T. Fuller Truth may be discovered under the varnish of his scoffing wit.
A means of embellishment or adornment; a beautifying or improving quality or feature. Also, a quality like that of varnish; shine, glossiness, brilliancy. L16.
N. Hawthorne A..rainy day takes the varnish off the scenery.
III.
An act of varnishing; an application of varnish. E17.
Phrases: desert varnish: see DESERT noun2. Japan varnish = Japan lacquer s.v. LACQUER noun 3. LITHOGRAPHIC varnish. nail varnish: see NAIL noun. spirit varnish: see SPIRIT noun.
Comb.: varnish sumac the Japanese lacquer-tree, Rhus vernicifera; varnish-tree any of various trees yielding resinous substances used in varnishes.
varnishy adjective characterized by varnish; suggestive or reminiscent of varnish: L19.