shea butter

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

shea′ but′ter, 

1. a solid, greenish, yellowish, or whitish fat derived from the seeds of the shea tree, used for food and in the manufacture of soaps and candles.

• 1840–50

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

shea  (shē, shā), n. 

1. Plant Biology See shea tree. 

• Bambara si (shea is Mungo Park's spelling, spelled)
• said to be 1799

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

shea / ˈʃɪə/ noun

1. a tropical African sapotaceous tree, Vitellaria paradoxa or (formerly) Butyrospermum parkii, with oily seeds
2. shea butter ⇒ the white butter-like fat obtained from the seeds of this plant and used as food, to make soaps, etc

Etymology: 18th Century: from Bambara si