butternut

American  

[buht-er-nuht] / ˈbʌt ərˌnʌt /

noun

1. Also called white walnut.  the edible oily nut of an American tree, Juglans cinerea, of the walnut family.

2. the tree itself.

3. the light-brown wood of this tree, used for making furniture.

4. the light-brown color resulting from a dye made from this tree.

5. U.S. History. a Confederate soldier or partisan, especially one whose uniform was dyed with an extract from this tree.

6. souari nut.

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butternut British  

/ ˈbʌtəˌnʌt /

noun

1. a walnut tree, Juglans cinerea of E North America Compare black walnut

2. the oily edible egg-shaped nut of this tree

3. the hard brownish-grey wood of this tree

4. the bark of this tree or an extract from it, formerly used as a laxative

5. a brownish colour or dye

6. short for butternut pumpkin

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Etymology

Origin of butternut

An Americanism dating back to 1735–45; so called from the nut's oiliness

Example Sentences

This supplies the UK with 55 million cobs of corn each year, along with chillis, butternut squash, and also green beans.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

From classic corn, cheddar, and bacon, to autumnal butternut squash with sage, to a “farmers market” mix of roasted vegetables, goat cheese, and onion jam, each muffin can be its own little experiment.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

You have your leading ladies, your butternut squash, carrots and then you have the character actor that you can't look away from.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2024

Mr Banks said he did not yet know if the large number of steak and ale, turkey and cranberry, and butternut squash pies were still stored in the back.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2024

Keeping him gently in place with one hand, I pick up the unshattered half of the butternut squash that’s lying in the produce section.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins