lacquer

Definition

A glossy, resinous material used as a surface coating; either a natural exudation of certain trees, or a solution of nitrocellulose in alcohol, etc.

Etymology

Borrowed from French lacque (“a sort of sealing wax”), from Portuguese laca, lacca (“gum lac”), from Persian لاک (lâk), from Hindi लाख (lākh), from Sanskrit लाक्षा (lākṣā). Doublet of lac.

Example Sentences

• "Had he deemed it "wisest, best," Mr. O'Donagough was not without the means of furnishing a splendid mansion in very showy style, and yet not leaving a single morsel of lacker, or or-molu, unpaid for."
• "It is a solvent for nitrocellulose and vinyl chloride-acetate resins and may function as an antiblush agent in lacquers."
• "Cellosolves are used as solvents for lacquers, for sealing cellophane wrapping, and in hydraulic-brake fluid."