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

You can’t do it with chewing gum and sealing wax.

From Washington Post • Mar. 15, 2022

A fingerprint has been detected on sealing wax.

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2020

And you can take that anywhere you like — Christmas plus pizza, Christmas plus Bigfoot, Christmas plus Hanukkah, clouds, pigs, sealing wax, whatever.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2018

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

She rummaged around in a drawer, brought out some sealing wax, and began to warm it over the lamp on her desk.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss