butternut

but·ter·nut  (btr-nt)

n.

1.

a. An eastern North American walnut (Juglans cinerea) having light-brown wood, pinnately compound leaves, and a deeply furrowed nut enclosed in an egg-shaped, sticky, aromatic husk. Also called white walnut.

b. The nut of this tree, having an edible sweet kernel.

c. The wood of this tree, used for furniture, boxes, and interior finishes.

d. The bark of this tree.

e. A brownish dye obtained from the husks of the fruits of this tree.

2.

a. butternuts Clothing dyed with butternut extract, especially the uniforms of Confederate soldiers in the Civil War.

b. Informal A Confederate soldier or partisan in the Civil War.

3. See souari nut.

---

[From the nut's oiliness.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	butternut - North American walnut tree having light-brown wood and edible nuts; source of a light-brown dye butternut tree, Juglans cinerea, white walnut butternut - oily egg-shaped nut of an American tree of the walnut family genus Juglans, Juglans - type genus of the Juglandaceae walnut tree, walnut - any of various trees of the genus Juglans
	2.	butternut - oily egg-shaped nut of an American tree of the walnut family edible nut - a hard-shelled seed consisting of an edible kernel or meat enclosed in a woody or leathery shell butternut, butternut tree, Juglans cinerea, white walnut - North American walnut tree having light-brown wood and edible nuts; source of a light-brown dye