noun
shellac
Shellac (noun) means a substance made from the secretion of the lac insect, used in polishes and varnishes.
noun
1
A substance made from the secretion of the lac insect, used in polishes and varnishes.
"At the turn of the century, the ever-expanding electrical industry was running low on shellac, a resin secreted by the female lac bug which could be used as an insulating material."
— Alice Bell, Can science break its plastic addiction? (2019)
"But, she says, a wartime ban on recordings using shellac and vinyl kept the Walker version from being released."
— Norman Pearlstine, Stormy Monday Blues (2002)
2
(informal) A heavy defeat.
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Etymology
Formed from shell and lac, a calque of the French laque en écailles, literally “lac in scales/shells”.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of shellac?
"shellac" (noun) means a substance made from the secretion of the lac insect, used in polishes and varnishes.
What are the different meanings of shellac?
"shellac" has 2 main meanings: 1. A substance made from the secretion of the lac insect, used in polishes and varnishes; 2. (informal) A heavy defeat.
