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.

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vegetable tallow British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of vegetable tallow

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

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 Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 436 Volume 17, New Series, May 8, 1852 by Chambers, Robert

The chief articles exported by my captors were bees’ wax and camphor, honey, vegetable tallow, areca-nuts, trepang dawma, sharks’ fins, tortoise-shell, edible birds’ nests, and pearls.

From Mark Seaworth by Kingston, William Henry Giles

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 Mark Seaworth by Kingston, William Henry Giles

The sebaceous matter, or vegetable tallow, is contained in the seed-vessels of the Stillingia.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 436 Volume 17, New Series, May 8, 1852 by Chambers, Robert

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

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various