shellac

or shel·lack

[ shuh-lak ]

noun

1. lac that has been purified and formed into thin sheets, used for making varnish shellac varnish by dissolving it in alcohol or a similar solvent.
2. formerly, a phonograph record made of a breakable material containing shellac, especially one to be played at 78 r.p.m.:

   In the antique shop I found a stack of old shellacs with recordings of great wartime classics.

verb (used with object)

, shel·lacked, shel·lack·ing.

1. to coat or treat with shellac.
2. Slang.
   1. to defeat; trounce.
   2. to thrash soundly.

shellac

/ ˈʃɛlæk; ʃəˈlæk /

noun

1. a yellowish resin secreted by the lac insect, esp a commercial preparation of this used in varnishes, polishes, and leather dressings
2. Also calledshellac varnish a varnish made by dissolving shellac in ethanol or a similar solvent
3. a gramophone record based on shellac

verb

1. to coat or treat (an article) with a shellac varnish
2. slang.
   to defeat completely

Derived Forms

• shelˈlacker, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shellac¹

First recorded in 1705–15; shell + lac ¹, translation of French laque en écailles “lac in thin plates”

Word History and Origins

Origin of shellac¹

C18: shell + lac ¹, translation of French laque en écailles, literally: lac in scales, that is, in thin plates

Example Sentences

To make the finger move, the Linz group wrapped it with an exoskeleton made from a material that included ethanol and shellac, the resin that’s used in very old records.

From Popular-Science

It was a fluke discovery by Belgian-born chemist Leo Baekeland, who was seeking an alternative to the natural shellac that insulated electrical cables.

From Science News

At the time, what gave natural polymers like cellulose, shellac and rubber their properties remained unknown.

From Science News

These crystallize rapidly in the heat, forming a shiny, viscous shellac known as amberat.

From Popular-Science

When partially exhausted the aluminum shutters are dipped into a bath of shellac.

From Project Gutenberg

When the stone is warm wipe off the oil which the heat has driven out and apply a couple of coats of shellac to the broken ends.

From Project Gutenberg

When the shellac is thoroughly dry, warm the stone again to melt the shellac, and clamp the pieces together.

From Project Gutenberg

Good white shellac makes the best finish for the seat; the stool itself may be finished to suit.

From Project Gutenberg

This metal tube should be coated with thick shellac, and the paper tube slipped over it for 1 in.

From Project Gutenberg