Veneer comes from German 'Furnier', from 'furnieren' ('to veneer, inlay'), from French 'fournir' ('to furnish, provide'). The initial sound was anglicized to 'v'. In current use it is a noun and verb meaning "a thin decorative covering; a deceptive outward appearance". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. The historical chain includes German furnieren and Old French fournir. Related English forms include furnish. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.