From German 'furnieren' (itself from French 'fournir,' to furnish) — a word that is itself wearing a thin layer of German over a French core.
A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to coarser material; an outward appearance that conceals true nature.
From German 'furnieren' (to furnish, to veneer), from French 'fournir' (to furnish, supply). The word traveled German → English, but its root is French. The idea of 'furnishing' (decorating a surface) became specific to the thin wood layer that makes
'Veneer,' 'furnish,' and 'furniture' are the same word. French 'fournir' (to equip/supply) gave English 'furnish' and 'furniture' directly, but also traveled through German as 'furnieren' and returned to English as 'veneer.' So 'veneer' is 'furnish' in disguise — a word wearing a thin German