Main Entry: ¹lac·quer

Pronunciation: \ˈla-kər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Portuguese lacré sealing wax, from laca lac, from Arabic lakk, from Persian lak — more at lac

Date: 1592

1 a : a spirit varnish (as shellac) b : any of various durable natural varnishes; especially : a varnish obtained from an Asian sumac (Rhus verniciflua) —called also Japanese lacquer
2 : any of various clear or colored synthetic organic coatings that typically dry to form a film by evaporation of the solvent; especially : a solution of a cellulose derivative (as nitrocellulose)