ivory nut

ivory nut

n. The seed of any of various tropical American palms of the genus Phytelephas, having a hard white endosperm that is the source of vegetable ivory, used for carving and manufacturing buttons. Also called tagua nut.

ivory nut

n 1. (Plants) the seed of the ivory palm, which contains an ivory-like substance used to make buttons, etc 2. (Plants) any similar seed from other palms Former name (1871–1932): vegetable ivory

i′vory nut`

n. the seed of a low South American palm, Phytelephas macrocarpa, yielding vegetable ivory. [1915–20]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

ivory nut - nutlike seed of a South American palm; the hard white shell takes a high polish and is used for e.g. buttonsapple nut, vegetable ivoryivory palm, ivory plant, ivory-nut palm, Phytelephas macrocarpa - a stemless palm tree of Brazil and Peru bearing ivory nutsseed - a small hard fruit