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

I applied sealing wax and dropped it in a mailbox.

From New York Times • May 25, 2024

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

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2019

Here he places the deep red of the sealing wax next to the musky pink on the book’s cover.

From Washington Post • Mar. 12, 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

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