tallow
1. The suet or fat of animals of the sheep and ox kinds, separated from membranous and fibrous matter by melting.
The solid consistency of tallow is due to the large amount of stearin it contains. See fat.
2. The fat of some other animals, or the fat obtained from certain plants, or from other sources, resembling the fat of animals of the sheep and ox kinds. Tallow candle, a candle made of tallow. Tallow catch, a keech. See Keech. Tallow chandler, one whose occupation is to make, or to sell, tallow candles. Tallow chandlery, the trade of a tallow chandler; also, the place where his business is carried on.
(Science: botany) Tallow tree, a tree (Stillingia sebifera) growing in china, the seeds of which are covered with a substance which resembles tallow and is applied to the same purposes.
Origin: OE. Taluh, talugh; akin to OD. Talgh, D. Talk, G, Dan. And Sw. Talg, Icel. Tolgr, tolg, tolk; and perhaps to Goth. Tulgus firm.
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