Where does “varnish” come from?
Varnish comes from Middle English vernisch, from Old French vernis, from Latin vernix, from Latin veronix, ultimately from Ancient Macedonian Βερενῑ́κη and Ancient Greek Βερενίκη, related to Ancient Greek φέρω meaning to carry or bear.
varnish (English): A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to...
Definitions
- A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to...
Ancestry of “varnish”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | vernisch | — |
| 2 | Old French | vernis | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | vernix | varnish; resin |
| 4 | Latin | veronix | — |
| 5 | Byzantine Greek | βερονίκη | resin amber |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | βερονίκιον | soda |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Βερενίκη | a city in Lybia; bringer of victory |
| 8 | Ancient Macedonian | Βερενῑ́κη | — |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 10 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |