veˈneering, vbl. n.
[Later form of faneering, fineering (cf. fineer v.), ad. G. furni(e)rung, fourni(e)rung: see prec. and cf. Da. finering, Sw. fanering.
The form faneering occurs in 1670 in Evelyn Sylva xxiv. 121, and in 1685 in Cotton Montaigne's Ess. (1711) III. 247. Fineering is common in the 18th cent.]
1. The process of applying thin flat plates or slips of fine wood (or other suitable material, as ivory) to cabinet-work or similar articles in order to produce a more elegant or polished surface than that of the underlying material; also, the result obtained by this process.
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Veneering, a sort of in-laid Work among Joyners, Cabinet-makers &c. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Marquetry, The whole is..polish'd with the Skin of the Sea-dog, Wax, and Shave-Grass, as in simple Vaneering. 1762 Derrick Lett. (1767) II. 66 Their polish is high; the inlaying and veneering very beautiful. 1829 Loudon Encycl. Plants (1836) 611 The old wood furnishes the cabinet-maker with a beautiful material for veneering. 1854 Tomlinson's Cycl. Usef. Arts (1867) II. 798/2 The operations of veneering consist in glueing the veneer to the prepared surface, and cleaning and polishing it when so fixed. 1873 Spon Workshop Rec. Ser. i. 411/1 In veneering with the hammer, cut the veneer a little larger than the surface to be covered. |
| transf. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2700 A process termed veneering has been adopted with some kinds of pottery where a strong but coarse and unsightly ware is dipped..into a paste of superior color and quality. |
b. fig. (
Cf. veneer v. 2 b.)
| 1808 Scott Let. in Lockhart (1837) II. vi. 208 By this sort of veneering, he converts..articles which, in their original state, might hang in the market [etc.]. 1846 Ford Gatherings fr. Spain (1906) 238 There is little originality in Spanish medicine. It is chiefly a veneering of other men's ideas. 1867 O. W. Holmes Guardian Angel iv, He had been a good scholar in college, not so much by hard study as by skilful veneering. 1884 G. Moore Mummer's Wife (1887) 126 The..veneering of the mind with new impressions. |
2. Wood or other material in the form of veneer; a facing of this.
| 1789 Burns Sketch, Veneering oft outshines the solid wood. 1849 Ruskin Sev. Lamps ii. §18. 46 A veneering of marble has been fastened on the rough brick wall. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 3411, The veneering being laid in cement instead of glue, will bear an immense amount of heat..before it will strip from the underwood. |
| transf. 1866 Carlyle Remin. (1881) II. 275 Book press of rough deal, but covered with newspaper veneering where necessary. |
b. fig. (
Cf. veneer v. 2 b.)
| 1865 Reader 4 Mar. 253/3 Though the great mass..have but a veneering of education and accomplishment. 1874 L. Stephen Hours in Library (1892) I. x. 372 A very thin veneering of mediævalism..covered his modern creed. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift Amer. 235 The thin veneering of civilisation gets worn off. |
3. attrib., as
veneering-hammer,
veneering-plane,
veneering-press.
A
faneering-saw is mentioned in 1688 by R. Holme
Armoury 365/1.
| 1846 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. IV. 212 This veneering-plane is of small size, and the iron..is jagged with a number of notches. Ibid. 213 A piece of wood about three inches square and an inch thick has a straight strip of iron-plate fixed to one edge, and is called a veneering-hammer. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 138/2 The surfaces..are..tightly pressed together in a veneering press. |