butternut

[ buht-er-nuht ]

noun

1. Also called white walnut. the edible oily nut of an American tree, Juglans cinerea, of the walnut family.
2. the tree itself.
3. the light-brown wood of this tree, used for making furniture.
4. the light-brown color resulting from a dye made from this tree.
5. U.S. History. a Confederate soldier or partisan, especially one whose uniform was dyed with an extract from this tree.
6. souari nut.

butternut

/ ˈbʌtəˌnʌt /

noun

1. a walnut tree, Juglans cinerea of E North America Compare black walnut
2. the oily edible egg-shaped nut of this tree
3. the hard brownish-grey wood of this tree
4. the bark of this tree or an extract from it, formerly used as a laxative
5. a brownish colour or dye
6. short for butternut pumpkin

Word History and Origins

Origin of butternut¹

An Americanism dating back to 1735–45; so called from the nut's oiliness

Example Sentences

“We prefer pumpkin, but we like butternut, too. Or acorn. Most any kind that’s not zucchini,” says Inkling.

From Literature

In fact, the taste was described as “almost sweet,” akin to a butternut squash mac and cheese and not the Kraft Original.

From Salon

She leans on what she knows and plays up those flavors: the koji-marinated tomato in the oyster dish, the acid from the oranges in the butternut squash carpaccio.

From Seattle Times

On Christmas Day, you can choose between a special four-course holiday menu with options including hazelnut stuffed pork loin, prime rib and butternut squash ravioli, or an a la carte holiday menu.

From Seattle Times

A blustery fall wind whipped through the rows of radicchio, across the butternut vines and edged the dance floor.

From Seattle Times