bog butter

[ bog buht-er, bawg ]

noun

, Irish, Scots.

1. an ancient, waxy substance made of dairy or animal fat, usually contained in a bucket, barrel, or other wooden container, found buried in peat bogs, as evidence of a method of food preservation believed to have been practiced from the 16th century b.c. to the 17th century a.d.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bog butter¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Clothing, tools and even blocks of bog butter have been dug out of the peat.

From New York Times

The man dug again and said, 'I have found a lump of bog butter.'

From Project Gutenberg

There is a curious account of Irish butter in the Irish Hudibras, by William Moffat, London, 1755, from which it appears that bog butter was then well known:— "But let his faith be good or bad, He in his house great plenty had Of burnt oat bread, and butter found, With garlick mixt, in boggy ground; So strong, a dog, with help of wind, By scenting out, with ease might find."

From Project Gutenberg

Specimens of bog butter are still preserved, and may be found in the collection of the Royal Irish Academy.

From Project Gutenberg