2. To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair
appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss
over; to palliate; as, to varnish guilt. ``Beauty doth
varnish age.'' --Shak.
Close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal. --Milton.
Cato's voice was ne'er employed To clear the guilty
and to varnish crimes. --Addison.
Note: According to the sorts of solvents employed, the
ordinary kinds of varnish are divided into three
classes: spirit, turpentine, and oil varnishes.
--Encyc. Brit
2. That which resembles varnish, either naturally or
artificially; a glossy appearance.
The varnish of the holly and ivy. --Macaulay.
3. An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any
act or conduct; outside show; gloss.
And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman
gave you. --Shak.
{Varnish tree} (Bot.), a tree or shrub from the juice or
resin of which varnish is made, as some species of the
genus {Rhus}, especially {R. vernicifera} of Japan. The
black varnish of Burmah is obtained from the
{Melanorrh[oe]a usitatissima}, a tall East Indian tree of
the Cashew family. See {Copal}, and {Mastic}.