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

There was a bit of sealing wax with a fingerprint, a brush entangled with strands of hair, and a set of lieutenants’ epaulets.

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

I took a slow turn around the shop, admiring the shelves heavy with books, business forms, proclamations from Parliament and General Howe, slates, thick paper, quills, and sealing wax.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson