Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “vernis” come from?

vernis (French) comes from Old French vernis, from Medieval Latin vernix, from Latin veronix, from Byzantine Greek βερονίκη, from Ancient Greek βερονίκιον, from Ancient Greek Βερενίκη, from Ancient Macedonian Βερενῑ́κη, from Ancient Greek φέρω — shiny, light brown.

vernis (French): varnish; nail polish; veneer

Definitions

  1. varnish; nail polish; veneer

Ancestry of “vernis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchvernis—
2Medieval Latinvernixvarnish; resin
3Latinveronix—
4Byzantine Greekβερονίκηresin amber
5Ancient Greekβερονίκιονsoda
6Ancient GreekΒερενίκηa city in Lybia; bringer of victory
7Ancient MacedonianΒερενῑ́κη—
8Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
9Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
11Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “vernis”

  • vernisser
  • vernissa
  • öljyvernissa
  • vernissa
  • venni
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →