Lacquer

v. coat with lacquer, varnish; make presentable, camouflage (with fancy words, etc.)

n. varnish, shiny protective coating

In a general sense, lacquer is a clear or coloured coating, that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required. In a narrower sense, lacquer consists of a resin dissolved in a fast-drying solvent which is a mixture of naphtha, xylene, toluene, and ketones, including acetone. The word lacquer comes from the lac insect (Laccifer lacca, formerly Coccus lacca), whose secretions have been historically used to make lacquer and shellac. In America today the word lacquer refers to nitrocellulose, and little else; most other coatings are known as varnish. In the UK however, the general rule is "if you spray it, it's lacquer - if you brush it, it's varnish". All factory finished furniture these days is therefore lacquer (pigmented, tinted or clear). Another ancient form of lacquerwork is done by heating shellac and adding powder of natural dyes. On hardening the lac is touched to a rotating wood on a lathe. The friction between the lathe and the wood creates heat which causes the shellac to melt and stick to the surface. This technique is today practised in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The artisan create many beautiful colors and patterns using simple machine or hand operated lathes.
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Noun
1. a black resinous substance obtained from certain trees and used as a natural varnish
(hypernym) gum
2. a hard glossy coating
(hypernym) coating, coat
(hyponym) japan
Verb
1. coat with lacquer; "A lacquered box from China"
(hypernym) decorate, adorn, grace, ornament, embellish, beautify
(hyponym) japan
(classification) handicraft

(v. t.)
To cover with lacquer.
  

(n.)
A varnish, consisting of a solution of shell-lac in alcohol, often colored with gamboge, saffron, or the like; -- used for varnishing metals, papier-mache, and wood. The name is also given to varnishes made of other ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which ornamental objects are made.
  

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