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vegetable tallow

American  

noun

  1. any of several tallowlike substances of vegetable origin, used in making candles, soap, etc., and as lubricants.

  2. tallow tree.


vegetable tallow British  

noun

  1. any of various types of tallow that are obtained from plants

"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

Etymology

Origin of vegetable tallow

First recorded in 1840–50

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.

Tall′ow-tree, the name given to trees of different kinds which produce a thick oil or vegetable tallow, or a somewhat resinous substance, capable of making candles.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

Cocoanut oil was once used extensively in the manufacture of fine candles, and is still occasionally in demand for this purpose in the Philippines, in combination with the vegetable tallow of a species of Stillingia.

From Project Gutenberg

The principal exports are fish, coarse black tea, cotton, vegetable tallow, sweet potatoes, and some wheat.

From Project Gutenberg

The flame was not bright; but the vegetable tallow has the advantage of remaining concrete, or hard, under the greatest tropical heat, white that produced from animal fat becomes too soft for the purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

With regard to the uses of the vegetable tallow, Dr Macgowan observes: 'Artificial illumination in China is generally procured by vegetable oils, but candles are also employed....

From Project Gutenberg