"So, bobad, what is it you mean by paraffin? I presume it's a vegetable oil."

I suppose the proper nomenclature is paraffin wax but the common usage here in North America is simply paraffin. It is removed from the turnip (rutabaga, swede) along with the peel.

From Wikipedia:

Paraffin wax

    * Candle-making
    * Coatings for waxed paper or cloth
    * Food-grade paraffin wax:
          o Shiny coating used in candy-making; although edible, it is nondigestible, passing right through the body without being broken down
          o Coating for many kinds of hard cheese, like Edam cheese
          o Sealant for jars, cans, and bottles
          o Chewing gum additive