Etymologist has left a new comment on your post "The Meaning Of A Word":
"I could be wrong"
You are ... and not for the first time. In this context, it's a slang expression - an early 20th-century Americanism derived from the word 'shellac' (a type of wood finish)
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And you could be right.
Except that. Shellac is a hard bright clear polished wood finish .derived from a particular species of beetle.It is also an ingredient in French Polish.
Now, I don't know why a defeat in an election might be compared to a hard bright clear polished wood finish.
But I can certainly see why a defeat at the polls could be described as a thorough drubbing at the hands of an adversary with an Irish knobbly blackthorn walking stick also used as a cudgel and known in verse and song as a shillalegh.
With me shillalegh under me arm
And a twinkle in me eye
I'll be off to Tipperary in the morning.
With me shillalegh under me arm
And a toora-loo-la-ri
I'll be welcome in the home that I was born in.
And A Happy Easter to you too , Mr. Smarty-pants entymologist.
What are the chances of an early 20th century "Americanism" being original?
May we throw ' gumption' into the pot? As in, 'The man was sorely lacking in gumption.' Beats the more crude modern versions.
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