train oil
noun [mass noun] chiefly historical
Oil obtained from the blubber of a whale (and formerly of other sea creatures), especially the right whale.I shudder when I think of the portions we received: seven or eight enormous black steaks, swimming in fried train oil, and garnished with bits of blubber....
- However, at this time there were already many established firms that produced train oil and thus held a certain monopoly.
- That's difficult for me to understand, however enlightened I may be with sun, moon, stearine, train oil, and tallow.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from obsolete train 'train oil', from Middle Low German trän, Middle Dutch traen, literally 'tear' (because it was extracted in droplets).