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Definition of suet

suet

/ˈsuː.ɪt/
su · et

Adjective:suety
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suet Lexical Profile

suet Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The hard white fat located around the kidneys and loins of cattle and sheep, commonly used in cooking to make traditional puddings, pastries, and mincemeat.

Example

"Traditional British Christmas pudding relies heavily on grated suet to achieve its rich, moist texture."


2

A commercially prepared block, ball, or cake of hard animal fat often mixed with seeds, nuts, or dried insects, used as a high-energy food source for wild birds.

Example

"We hung a block of suet in the garden feeder to help the woodpeckers and chickadees survive the harsh winter."

Word Nuance & Usage

Suet specifically refers to the raw, hard fat from around the kidneys of cattle or sheep, which distinguishes it from lard (pig fat) and tallow (which is suet that has been rendered or purified).

• Rhymes for suet

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'suet', derived from Anglo-Norman, functioning as a diminutive of Old French 'siu' (tallow), which ultimately traces back to Latin 'sebum' (tallow, grease).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Suet. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/suet
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