'lacquer' originates from Portuguese, specifically the word 'laca', and via French 'laque'; ultimately from Arabic 'lakk' and Sanskrit 'laksha' (a name for the resin-producing scale insect).

'lacquer' entered English from Middle French 'laque' and Portuguese/Spanish 'laca'; these came from Arabic 'lakk', which in turn came from Sanskrit 'laksha'. Over time the term moved from referring to the raw resin to the varnish and the act of varnishing, and English adopted forms such as Middle English 'lacquere' before modern 'lacquer'.

Initially it referred to the resin (from the lac insect) or the substance used as a finish; over time it came to mean the varnish itself and the action 'to coat with such a varnish', giving the modern senses of 'lacquer' and 'lacquered'.