vernissage

From French vernissage, derived from the earlier habit of the artists to varnish their paintings the day before the opening of an exhibition.

• IPA^(key): /vɛːnɪˈsɑːʒ/

vernissage (plural vernissages)

1. A private viewing of an art exhibition before it opens to the public.
   • 1893, The Times, 2 May 1893, p.5 col. C

     […] the artists' association will be forced to advance or delay its vernissage and opening day.

• preview
• private view

• opening

• soft opening

• assevering, envisagers

From vernir +‎ -age

• IPA^(key): /vɛʁnisaʒ/

vernissage m (plural vernissages)

1. varnishing, glazing
2. a private viewing at a gallery

• “vernissage” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

French

vernissage m (invariable)

1. preview (private viewing)