What is "varnish tree"

Varnish \Var"nish\, n. [OE. vernish, F. vernis, LL. vernicium; akin to F. vernir to varnish, fr. (assumed) LL. vitrinire to glaze, from LL. vitrinus glassy, fr. L. vitrum glass. See Vitreous.]

1. A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture.

   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 Rhus 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.

1. n. large tree native to southeastern Asia; the nuts yield oil used in varnishes; nut kernels strung together are used locally as candles [syn: candlenut, Aleurites moluccana]

2. small Asiatic tree yielding a toxic exudate from which lacquer is obtained [syn: lacquer tree, Chinese lacquer tree, Japanese lacquer tree, Japanese varnish tree, Japanese sumac, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Rhus verniciflua]

The name varnish tree could refer to three species of trees:

• The goldenrain tree ( Koelreuteria paniculata)
• The candlenut, or kukui ( Aleurites moluccanus)
• The Chinese lacquer tree ( Toxicodendron vernicifluum)