Also 8 vaneer, veneir. [Later form (cf. next) of FINEER v., ad. G. furni(e)ren, fourni(e)ren, ad. F. fournir FURNISH v. Cf. Da. finere, Sw. fanéra.]
1. trans. To apply or fix as veneering.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Marquetry, All the Pieces thus formed with the Saw,… they vaneer or fasten each in its Place on the common Ground.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2700/2. To veneer marble on zinc.
2. To cover or face with veneer.
Also occas. transf., to cover with a layer or facing of some different or superior material.
1742. Baskerville’s Pat., in Sixth Rep. Dep. Kpr., App. II. 156. To veneir the Frames of Printings and Pictures,… the fronts of Cabinets, Buroes, &c., now usually veneired with Ebony, Whalebone, &c.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 171. The pulpit is veneered, and carved with … figures.
1845. G. Dodd, Brit. Manuf., IV. 206. We suppose our table … made either of solid mahogany or veneered upon deal.
1854. Tomlinson’s Cycl. Usef. Arts (1867), II. 797/2. Pape, of Paris, some years ago, veneered a piano-forte entirely with ivory.
1874. Contemp. Rev., Oct., 758. Mr. Burges’ proposal to veneer the lower part … with marble is objectionable.
transf. 1857. Dufferin, Lett. High Lat. (ed. 3), 316. The salt-water bay … was veneered over with a pellicle of ice one-eighth of an inch in thickness.
b. fig. To invest with a merely external or specious appearance of some commendable or attractive quality. Usu. const. with.
1847. Tennyson, Princ., Prol. 117. And one the Master, as a rogue in grain Veneer’d with sanctimonious theory.
1868. Holme Lee, B. Godfrey, lxvi. Another lady of neglected education, whom … Elizabeth was veneering with thin plates of knowledge.
1872. Jeaffreson, Brides & Bridals, I. viii. 126. Paganism thinly veneered with Christianity.
absol. 1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t. (1883), 123. He? Veneers in first-rate style. The mahogany scales off now and then.
c. To serve as a veneer to (something).
1875. M. Collins, Sweet & Twenty, II. II. i. 175. He returned with a vast amount of polish, which, however, veneered a good deal of conceit.
Hence Veneered ppl. a.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 18. A carved pulpit, a veneered sounding-board.
1845. G. Dodd, Brit. Manuf., IV. 214. They are placed so that the veneered surface shall be grasped between the two clamps.
1875. Carpentry & Join., 140. The veneered furniture has ousted the more solid, trustworthy articles.
fig. 1884. Harper’s Mag., Oct., 798/1. The thinly veneered Berserkir in the English race.
transf. 1889. Textile News, 5 April, 26/2. The Hat Trade…. Large quantities of coloured veneered goods are in demand from abroad.
