See Also:

lac(1) (iou)



lac noun1. [lak] Also lack, (earlier) lacca. See also LAKE noun3. LME.
[(medieval Latin lac, lac(c)a from) Portuguese lac(c)a from Hindi lakh, Persian lak. Cf. SHELLAC.]
The dark-red resinous incrustation secreted as a protective covering by the females of certain homopteran insects (esp. Laccifer lacca) parasitic on SE Asian trees, used (esp. in the Indian subcontinent) to make shellac and dye. LME.
seed-lac: ground in water to remove the dye. stick-lac untreated lac encrusted on twigs.
The varnish made from lac. Also, any of various resinous wood varnishes. Cf. LACQUER noun 2, 3. L16-E18.
Ware coated with lac or lacquer. M17.
The colour of lac; crimson. Also, a pigment prepared from lac. Cf. LAKE noun3 1. L17-M18.
Comb.: lac-dye a brilliant scarlet dye prepared from lac; lac-insect any lac-producing insect, esp. Laccifer lacca.