'refinish' originates from the Latin prefix 're-' meaning 'again' combined with the word 'finish', which ultimately comes from Latin 'finire' meaning 'to end or limit.'

'finish' entered English via Old French (from Latin 'finire'); the modern English verb 'refinish' was formed by adding the productive English prefix 're-' to 'finish' to mean 'to finish again.'

Initially, 'finish' meant 'to bring to an end' (from Latin 'finire'); over time its sense extended to mean 'to give a surface its final treatment,' and 'refinish' developed to mean 'to apply that final treatment again.'