Japan wax

noun

: a yellowish fat obtained from the berries of several Asian sumacs (such as Rhus verniciflua and R. succedanea) and used chiefly in polishes

Examples of Japan wax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The replica was constructed in London, with a head made of beeswax and Japan wax cast from a plaster mold, and human hair, inserted one strand at a time; it was dressed in a papaya-colored jumpsuit and Gucci sneakers from Williams’s own closet. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 17 May 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Japan wax was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near Japan wax

Cite this Entry

“Japan wax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Japan%20wax. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!