shellac
English
Etymology
shell + lac, calque translation of French laque (“lac”) + en (“in”) + écailles (“scales, shells”)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʃəˈlæk/
Noun
shellac (countable and uncountable, plural shellacs)
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), p. 21:
- In 1964 Goldwater ran rambunctiously, flat-out against government. He got shellacked.
- 1987 Tim McCarver and Ray Robinson, Oh, Baby, I Love It! (Villard Books), p. 220:
- In another the Mets were shellacked, 9-1, with a stray ninth-inning home run by Strawberry after two outs, preventing a shutout.
- 1987 George F. Will, The New Season: A Spectator's Guide to the 1988 Election (Simon and Schuster), p. 21:
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