n.
- a substance consisting of resin dissolved in a liquid, applied to wood to give a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry.
▸nail varnish.
- literary an external or superficial appearance:
an outward varnish of civilization.
v.
apply varnish to.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. vernis, from med. L. veronix ‘fragrant resin, sandarac’ or med. Gk berenikē, prob. from Berenice, a town in Cyrenaica.