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

But for Chris specifically, I remember he had this Shellac 7-inch where the insert was like their recording setup, with a drawing of every microphone and every compressor.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to his work on canonized rock albums such as Nirvana’s “In Utero,” the Pixies’ breakthrough “Surfer Rosa,” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” Albini was the frontman of the underground bands Big Black and Shellac.

From Seattle Times

Famous among rock fans for his work in the recording studio with the likes of Nirvana and the Pixies — and for his own bands Shellac and Big Black — Albini was known for harsh guitars and booming drums presented with none of the sweetening that can make a rock record sound like a candyland.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to his work on canonized rock albums such as Nirvana ‘s “In Utero,” the Pixies’ breakthrough “Surfer Rosa,” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” Albini was the frontman of the underground bands Big Black and Shellac.

From Seattle Times

In the early ’90s, he formed Shellac, the ferocious, distorted noise-rock band — an evolution from Big Black, but still punctuated by pummeling guitar tones and aggressive vocals.

From Seattle Times