Varnish
/ˈvɑːr.nɪʃ/noun
A liquid applied to a surface that dries to form a hard, glossy protective coating.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a medieval term for resinous coating material, and its history reflects the old world of craft secrets where surface shine was literally a protected finish.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
varnisshen
“to apply a glossy protective coating”
Old French
OF
vernis
“varnish, protective glaze”
Medieval Latin
ML
vernix
“resinous coating or varnish”
Latin
LA
vernix
“a kind of resinous substance or coating”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wer-
“to cover, guard, or protect”