Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A plant (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) in the mustard family, having dark green, spreading, usually crinkled leaves that are eaten as a vegetable.
  • noun Slang Money.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In Scotland, loosely, cabbage in general, and by extension any kind of greens; specifically, both there and elsewhere, any variety of cabbage with curled or wrinkled leaves not forming compact heads like the common cabbage, nor yielding a fleshy edible inflorescence like the cauliflower and broccoli, and usually having a long stalk; borecole.
  • noun A broth made in Scotland in which kale or cabbage is a principal ingredient; hence, any soup, no matter of what composed, and, by a further extension, dinner: as, will you come and tak' your kale wi' me?
  • noun Brassica oleracea, the cabbage-plant, in its wild state.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Bot.) A variety of cabbage in which the leaves do not form a head, being nearly the original or wild form of the species.
  • noun See Kail, 2.
  • noun (Bot.) a European cruciferous herb (Crambe maritima), often used as a pot herb; sea cabbage.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun cole
  • noun An edible plant, similar to cabbage, with curled leaves that do not form a dense head (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
  • noun slang money

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun informal terms for money
  • noun a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
  • noun coarse curly-leafed cabbage

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English col, kal; see cole.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Middle English cawul, compare Icelandic kál ("cabbage") and German Kohl ("cabbage").

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Examples

  • One thing I have come to like in kale is its texture that stands stir-frying unlike other greens.

    Going Lite with Kale Thoran « Salt and Pepper. 2007

  • Crisp and fluffy greens are like eating springtime itself, root veggies practically glow in the fall, kale is like candy in December, and those fresh tomatoes … mmm.

    Food decisions | Radical Futures Project 2009

  • Saute some chopped onions and garlic in olive oil, then add washed and chopped greens (a mixture of spinach and some bitter green, like dandelion or kale, is great; just spinach is fine too).

    kateelliott: Query: Casseroles and Main Dishes that freeze well kateelliott 2009

  • But any delicious preparation of kale is of interest to me.

    On a mission. Michele 2007

  • Besides tasting good, Lacinato kale is good for you.

    Archive 2007-11-01 Laurie Constantino 2007

  • Besides tasting good, Lacinato kale is good for you.

    Recipe: Greens and Beans Soup (Fasolia me Horta) Laurie Constantino 2007

  • - Once the lentils are cooked and the potatoes are done, stir the kale into the lentils, cover and allow to cook until the kale is wilted.

    Archive 2006-10-01 2006

  • Here, the kale is not overwhelmed by other flavors, as sometimes happens with more tomato or sausage dominated kale soups.

    Toast: Lindy 2006

  • Here, the kale is not overwhelmed by other flavors, as sometimes happens with more tomato or sausage dominated kale soups.

    Black Kale and the Last Cool-Weather Soup Lindy 2006

  • Add tofu and cover, allow to cook another 5 minutes, or until kale is the texture you like (I like mine a little overcooked).

    Archive 2006-10-01 2006

Comments

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  • Thanks WeirdNET. Money doesn't grow on trees but it just might be in your veggie patch.

    Eh-em.

    Scots - a broth made from greens; the vegetable kale

    December 6, 2007

  • I had a friend who devoted much of his garden to kale. I think it's the only leafy green thing my spouse doesn't like!

    December 7, 2007

  • Movie plot: terrifyingly healthy person in a hockey mask runs through a crowded cinema carrying a green smoothie and shouting 'KALE THEM ALL!'.

    May 18, 2016