shellac meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

shellac

noun

/ʃəˈlæk/ · /ʃɛˈlæk/

Etymology From shell + lac, calque of French laque en écailles (literally “lac in scales/shells”).

A processed secretion of the lac insect, Coccus lacca; used in polishes, varnishes etc.

But, she says, a wartime ban on recordings using shellac and vinyl kept the Walker version from being released.2002 April 29, Norman Pearlstine, “A Month Of Mondays If that doesn't give you the blues, nothing will. Norman Pearlstine ranks his favorite versions of the classic "Stormy Monday Blues"--one for every doggone working day of the month.”, in CNN Money:
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.2019 November 5, Alice Bell, “Can science break its plastic addiction?”, in CNN:

US, Informal A beating; a thrashing.

verb

Etymology From shell + lac, calque of French laque en écailles (literally “lac in scales/shells”).

To coat with shellac.

US, Informal To beat; to thrash.

US, Informal To inflict a heavy defeat upon.

In 1964 Goldwater ran rambunctiously, flat-out against government. He got shellacked.1987, George F. Will, The New Season: A Spectator's Guide to the 1988 Election, Simon and Schuster, page 21:
In another the Mets were shellacked, 9-1, with a stray ninth-inning home run by Strawberry after two outs, preventing a shutout.1987, Tim McCarver, Ray Robinson, Oh, Baby, I Love It!, Villard Books, page 220:

1 more example

[Former Arizona GOP Senator Jeff Flake] warns Republicans could be on track for a shellacking in the midterms[.]2026 June 18, Claudia Grisales, “They're leaving Congress with nothing to lose, spelling potential trouble for Trump”, in National Public Radio, Washington, D.C.: National Public Radio:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.