Shellacks

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To cover with a glossy varnish or lacquer
2. To put someone in a difficult or punishing situation through intense criticism or actions
3. To defeat someone decisively, often in a manner that demonstrates superiority

Etymology: "Shellacks" is the third-person singular form of the verb "shellack" (and also the plural of the noun), meaning to coat something with shellac, a glossy resin-based varnish. The verb grew out of the noun, so the base word carries the whole story: shellac is a compound of "shell" and "lac," the latter a term for the resinous secretion of lac insects. Its meaning has since spread to slang, where to "shellack" someone means to defeat them thoroughly, a sense that developed from the varnish's hard, glossy finish.