lac

Definition

A resinous substance or lacquer produced mainly on the banyan tree by the female of Kerria lacca, a scale insect.

Etymology

From Portuguese laca, from Hindi लाख (lākh)/Urdu لاکھ (lākh) or cognates in other Indo-Aryan languages, from Sanskrit लाक्षा (lākṣā). Doublet of lacquer.

Example Sentences

• "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."