# shellac

> English word · Noun · IPA /ʃəˈlæk/ · frequency rank #49,632

## Definitions
1. A processed secretion of the lac insect, Coccus lacca; used in polishes, varnishes etc.
2. A beating; a thrashing.

## Etymology
From shell + lac, calque of French laque en écailles (literally “lac in scales/shells”).

## Easily confused with
- **shells** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shellac-vs-shells)
- **stella** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shellac-vs-stella)
- **shelly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shellac-vs-shelly)
- **stellar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shellac-vs-stellar)
- **Shelley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shellac-vs-shelley)
- **shelled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shellac-vs-shelled)
- **shell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shell-vs-shellac)
- **sheila** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sheila-vs-shellac)

## Common misspellings (9)
`hsellac`, `sehllac`, `shelac`, `shelalc`, `shellacc`, `shellca`, `shhellac`, `shlelac`, `sshellac`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shellac