shellac
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English
Etymology
From shell + lac, calque of French laque en écailles (literally “lac in scales/shells”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʃəˈlæk/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - Rhymes: -æk
Noun
shellac (countable and uncountable, plural shellacs)
- A processed secretion of the lac insect, Coccus lacca; used in polishes, varnishes etc.
- (informal, US) A beating; a thrashing.
Synonyms
- E904 when used as a glazing agent.
Translations
processed secretion of the lac insect
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Verb
shellac (third-person singular simple present shellacs, present participle shellacking, simple past and past participle shellacked)
- (transitive) To coat with shellac.
- (informal, US, transitive) To beat; to thrash.
- (informal, US, transitive) To inflict a heavy defeat upon.
- 1987, George F. Will, The New Season: A Spectator's Guide to the 1988 Election, Simon and Schuster, page 21:
- In 1964 Goldwater ran rambunctiously, flat-out against government. He got shellacked.
- 1987, Tim McCarver, Ray Robinson, Oh, Baby, I Love It!, Villard Books, page 220:
- In another the Mets were shellacked, 9-1, with a stray ninth-inning home run by Strawberry after two outs, preventing a shutout.
Translations
to coat with shellac
to inflict a heavy defeat upon
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