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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.

See Examples For:

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 Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

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 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

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 The Cocoanut With reference to its products and cultivation in the Philippines by Lyon, William S. (Scrugham)

We are not aware that the vegetable tallow has as yet been imported into Britain to any extent.

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

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