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

Instead, “People getting ready to do things” is spelled out in egg yolk, besmirching the virginal purity of its white satin support; and “It’s only vanishing cream” is translucent shellac disappearing against deathly black.

From Los Angeles Times

“Your son has shellac in his veins,” referring to the brittle material used in 78 r.p.m. records.

From New York Times

Salisbury recommends sealing the knots first with shellac.

From Washington Post

Trompe l’oeil artists were also highly in demand in the decorative arts, and wealthy patrons would hire peintres-décorateurs to shellac their drawing rooms with imitation marble and porphyry.

From New York Times

The history of recorded sound is largely about progression and abandonment, from Edison’s wax cylinders to shellac 78 rpm records; from vinyl LPs, 8-tracks and cassettes to the compact disc.

From Washington Post