The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Varnish \Var"nish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Varnished; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Varnishing.] [Cf. F. vernir, vernisser. See
   Varnish, n.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces,
      when dry, a hard, glossy surface; as, to varnish a table;
      to varnish a painting.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair
      appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss
      over; to palliate; as, to varnish guilt. "Beauty doth
      varnish age." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            Cato's voice was ne'er employed
            To clear the guilty and to varnish crimes.
                                                  --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

varnished
    adj 1: having a coating of stain or varnish [syn: stained,
           varnished]