Lac

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /læk/

Definitions

1. A type of resin that originates from the secretions of certain insects, which is typically employed in products like varnishes and dyes
2. An organic substance that comes from the excretions of specific insects, commonly used for coatings and as a dye in various industries
3. A natural resin produced by certain insects, extracted for use in varnishes, coatings, and dyes

Etymology: The name may carry a count of insects. In Sanskrit, "lākṣā" is generally linked to "lakṣa," meaning "one hundred thousand," a reference to the swarms of tiny insects that produce the resin. Scholars treat this link as traditional rather than proven, but it fits the insects' enormous numbers on host trees. The word passed through Hindi as "lākh" and reached English from the Indian subcontinent through trade. Its Indo-Aryan roots show that the substance was known and named in India long before European traders encountered it. Its Sanskrit form is the older link in the chain, and the English word keeps the basic shape of that Indian name.