tallow
tallow
UK[ˈtæləʊ]US[ˈtæloʊ]
n
a hard, pale fat obtained from animals such as cows and sheep, used in making soap and candles and formerly in cooking.
Etymology
the word "tallow" has a deep germanic lineage, tracing back to middle low german "talge" and old english "tælg" or "tealh," meaning fat or suet. these terms are likely related to the middle dutch "talch" and the old high german "talg," all pointing to a common west germanic ancestor. the core concept has consistently referred to rendered animal fat, a crucial material for light and lubrication before modern alternatives. its journey into english was direct, retaining both its form and its specific, practical meaning related to animal-derived hard fats.
Analysis
the word is a simplex. it is a loanword from a germanic source, entering english from old english and middle low german.
Examples
traditional soap was often made from animal tallow and wood ash.
the candle flickered, its tallow wax dripping slowly down the side.
before the widespread use of vegetable oils, tallow was a common cooking fat.