What does tallow mean?
Tallow is the firm, yellowish fat obtained from sheep and cattle, particularly from the fatty tissue around the kidneys and intestines. Before the widespread use of petroleum-based products, it was valuable for making candles, soap, and lubricants, and it remains important in some traditional crafts and industrial processes. As a mass noun, it usually appears without a plural. Tallow is distinct from lard, which comes from pigs and is softer and more familiar in cooking, and from general grease, which can refer to substances of many kinds. In its rare transitive verb use, tallow means to grease or lubricate with this animal fat. The word is especially evocative of premodern household life, when ordinary animal by-products could be processed into useful lighting and cleaning materials.
Rendered animal fat, especially from sheep or cattle, used in making candles, soap, and lubricants.
"The maker rendered sheep fat into tallow for candle production."
Usually uncountable when referring to the material; the plural tallow is uncommon.
To grease or lubricate something with tallow.
"The worker tallowed the leather before folding it."
Rare and chiefly associated with leatherworking and traditional crafts.
The plural tallow is uncommon and may refer to separate pieces or quantities of the material.
"The shop sold blocks of tallow for making candles."
Before electric lighting, tallow candles helped many households turn ordinary animal fat into light.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tallow come from?
The word comes through Middle English from a Germanic source. Its relatives include German Talg, Dutch talk, and Swedish talg, all referring to animal fat of this kind. In English, the term developed alongside the processing of livestock fat into candles, soap, and other useful products.
How tallow is actually used
Tallow is chiefly a practical and historical term rather than a culinary one. It is usually uncountable when referring to the material, while the plural tallow is uncommon. In the rare verb sense, it means to grease or lubricate something with tallow.
Easily confused with tallow
Tallow is generally the harder, rendered fat of sheep or cattle, whereas lard is the softer fat of pigs and is more commonly used in cooking.
Tallow is a noun for rendered animal fat and can also be used transitively as a rare verb meaning to grease or lubricate with tallow.