spirit varnish

British

noun

a varnish consisting of a gum or resin, such as shellac or copal, dissolved in alcohol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At present, spirit varnish with its quick drying and high surface is almost exclusively used for this purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

Varnishing is nowadays always done with spirit varnish, which is convenient for working.

From Project Gutenberg

The spirit varnish to be used—called map or photo varnish—is still too thick as sold.

From Project Gutenberg

To make a spirit varnish for maps, 48 49.

From Project Gutenberg

To make a spirit varnish for pictures and fancy boxes.—To a pint of alcohol, in a flask, add four ounces of gum-mastic, and one ounce of gum-sandarac, both in powder; expose the mixture to a gentle heat, sufficient to produce a slight ebulition for a few minutes, frequently shaking it, and the gums will be dissolved; strain the varnish through a fine flannel, bottle and cork it.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023