shellac

Where does the word "shellac" come from? It comes from Sanskrit laksha, passing through Hindi and English before entering English (1713).

Shellac’s story begins in Sanskrit: laksha meant “resinous dye insect secretion.” Named the resin that would eventually reach English as 'lac'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as lakh. Carried the word toward Persian and European traders. From there it passed into English as lac by 1600s. Borrowed as the English name for the processed resin. It reached English by 1713 as shellac. Coined from 'shell' plus 'lac', translating French 'laque en écailles' (lac in thin plates). Today, shellac means a resin secreted by the lac insect, purified into flakes and dissolved in alcohol to make varnish.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient laksha "resinous dye insect secretion", named the resin that would eventually reach English as 'lac'.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval lakh "the resin", carried the word toward Persian and European traders.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s lac "purified resin sold in flakes", borrowed as the English name for the processed resin.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1713 shellac "lac resin melted into thin flakes for varnish", coined from 'shell' plus 'lac', translating French 'laque en écailles' (lac in thin plates).