sealing wax

American  

noun

1. a resinous preparation, soft when heated, used for sealing letters, documents, etc.

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sealing wax British  

noun

1. a hard material made of shellac, turpentine, and pigment that softens when heated. It is used for sealing documents, parcels, letters, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sealing wax

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

A one-pound jar of bottle sealing wax from BW Blended Waxes Inc. of Oshkosh, Wis. — enough to seal 25 to 30 bottles — is available for less than $20 on Amazon.

From Washington Post • Sep. 8, 2022

A fingerprint has been detected on sealing wax.

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2020

By the 1950s it appeared fountain pens would go the way of sealing wax and vinyl records.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2019

The man who revolutionized our understanding of the universe using little more than string and sealing wax would have watched with pride and hope.

From Scientific American • Aug. 30, 2013

"How kind of Lord Tywin. And his sealing wax is such a lovely shade of gold."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin