vernissage

enUK

ver·nis·sage

V0067700 (vĕr′nĭ-säzh′)n. A private showing held before the opening of an art exhibition.
[French, varnishing, day before the official opening of an exhibition on which artists would varnish their paintings, vernissage, from vernis, varnish, from Old French; see varnish.]

vernissage

(ˌvɜːnɪˈsɑːʒ) n1. (Art Terms) a preview or the opening or first day of an exhibition of paintings2. (Art Terms) another term for varnishing day[French, from vernis varnish]

ver•nis•sage

(ˌvɛr nəˈsɑʒ; Fr. vɛr niˈsaʒ)

n., pl. -sages (-ˈsɑ ʒɪz; Fr. -ˈsaʒ) a reception at a gallery for an artist whose show is about to open to the public. [1910–15; < French: literally, a varnishing, touching up (of paintings). See varnish, -age]