lacquer
UK /ˈlæk.ə/ · US /ˈlæk.ɚ/ noun, verb
Forms lacquers lacquering lacquered lacker
- noun A glossy, resinous material used as a surface coating; either a natural exudation of certain trees, or a solution of nitrocellulose in alcohol, etc.
- verb To apply a lacquer to something or to give something a smooth, glossy finish.
Synonyms
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.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A varnish, consisting of a solution of shell-lac in alcohol, often colored with gamboge, saffron, or the like; --used for varnishing metals, papier-maché, and wood. The name is also given to varnishes made of other ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which ornamental objects are made.
- verb To cover with lacquer. "Lacquer'd chair." Pope.
Etymology [F. lacre a sort of sealing wax, Pg. lacte, fr. laca lac. See Lac the resin.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “lacquer”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details