lacquer

Where does the word "lacquer" come from? It comes from Persian lak, passing through Arabic, Portuguese and French before entering English (1570s).

Lacquer’s story begins in Persian: lak meant “lac resin.” The resinous substance secreted by the lac insect. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Arabic as lakk. Adapted from Persian for the resinous substance. From there it passed into Portuguese as lacca by 1500s. From 'lac', the resin secreted by lac insects; Portuguese traders brought Asian lacquerware to Europe. French picked it up next, as lacre, around 1500s. A kind of sealing wax, an unexplained variant of the Portuguese term. It reached English by 1570s as lacquer. Settled as the English word for the glossy varnish. Today, lacquer means a glossy, protective coating applied to wood or metal surfaces.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · ancient lak "lac resin", the resinous substance secreted by the lac insect.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval lakk "lac resin", adapted from Persian for the resinous substance.
3. Stage 3 · Portuguese · 1500s lacca "lac resin, varnish", from 'lac', the resin secreted by lac insects; Portuguese traders brought Asian lacquerware to Europe.
4. Stage 4 · French · 1500s lacre "sealing wax", a kind of sealing wax, an unexplained variant of the Portuguese term.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1570s lacquer "a glossy protective coating", settled as the English word for the glossy varnish.