I. ˈvär-nish noun
Etymology: Middle English vernisch, from Anglo-French vernis, from Old Italian or Medieval Latin; Old Italian vernice, from Medieval Latin veronic-, veronix sandarac
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a liquid preparation that when applied to a surface dries to form a hard lustrous typically transparent coating
b. : the covering or glaze given by the application of varnish
c.
(1) : something that suggests varnish by its gloss
(2) : a coating (as of deposits in an internal combustion engine) comparable to varnish
2. : outside show : gloss I
3. chiefly British : a liquid nail polish
• var·nishy -ni-shē adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1. : to apply varnish to
2. : to cover or conceal (as something unpleasant) with something that gives an attractive appearance : gloss II
3. : adorn , embellish
• var·nish·er ˈvär-ni-shər noun