tall oil

noun

ˈtäl- How to pronounce tall oil (audio)
ˈtȯl-
: a resinous by-product from the manufacture of chemical wood pulp used especially in making soaps, coatings, and oils

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of German Tallöl, partial translation of Swedish tallolja, from tall pine + olja oil

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tall oil was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near tall oil

Cite this Entry

“Tall oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tall%20oil. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on tall oil

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!