benne

or ben·ny

[ ben-ee ]

noun

1. Southern U.S., especially South Carolina, and Bahamian English. the sesame plant or its seeds.

benne

/ ˈbɛnɪ /

noun

1. another name for sesame
2. benne oil
   the edible oil obtained from sesame seeds

Word History and Origins

Origin of benne¹

1760–70, Americanism; < Wolof, Malinke bene

Word History and Origins

Origin of benne¹

C18: from Malay bene ; compare Bambara bene

Example Sentences

There were lots of green snap beans, stalks of yellow sweet corn, Sea Island red peas, crookneck squash, benne seeds, and purple okra that looked like fingers reaching for the sky.

From Literature

By using African-influenced ingredients like smoked canned fish and benne seeds, I find that our most traditional and well-loved Southern dishes are bumped up in flavor and texture.

From Salon

Cultured until thick and tart, it became the yogurt mousse that served as a kind of sauce for malt ice cream and a paper-thin Frisbee of benne seeds suspended in hard caramel.

From New York Times

Wilma Flinstone appears to have staged the meaty smoked pork spare ribs, the dark bark of which is sticky with honey, caramelized brown sugar and soy sauce and freckled with benne seeds.

From Washington Post

Mostly, though, I just want more duck, another bowl of Carolina rice and field peas, a touch more benne seed Brussels sprouts — and a second attack at that fried chicken.

From Washington Post