- veneer
- 1702, from Ger. Furnier, from furnieren "to cover with a veneer, inlay," from Fr. fournir "to furnish, accomplish," from M.Fr. fornir "to furnish," from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. frumjan "to provide;" see furnish). A word batted back and forth from German to French to German. Fig. sense of "mere outward show of some good quality" is attested from 1868. The verb is recorded from 1728.