kale

American  

[keyl] / keɪl /

Or kail

noun

1. Also called borecole.  a cabbagelike cultivated plant, Brassica oleracea acephala, of the mustard family, having curled or wrinkled leaves: used as a vegetable.

2. Scot. cabbage.

3. Slang. money.

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kale ¹ British  

/ keɪl /

noun

1. a cultivated variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea acephala, with crinkled leaves: used as a potherb See also collard

2. a cabbage

3. slang money

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kale ² British  

/ keɪl /

noun

1. dialect a queue

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Etymology

Origin of kale

1250–1300; Middle English cale, northern variant of cole

Explanation

Kale is a green leafy vegetable that's a close relative of cabbage and broccoli. Kale is tough and bitter when raw, but it can be yummy when you prepare it the right way. If you're a fan of green smoothies, there's almost certainly some kale in them. Marinating kale, roasting it with olive oil and salt, and throwing it in a stir fry are all great ways to make kale tasty. Long ago, kale was also a slang term for "money," as in, "Hand over the kale, sweetheart, and nobody gets hurt." Kale comes from a Scottish variation on cole, which meant "cabbage" in Middle English.

Example Sentences

Kale and bok choy with their cool, lacquered leaves.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2026

“There’s a convergence where industry is collectively moving towards defining how A.I. looks and feels inside of user interfaces,” Kale said.

From Slate • Dec. 26, 2025

Inflation, pro-growth fiscal tailwinds and accelerating corporate governance reforms are reshaping the Japanese market, Jefferies strategist Shrikant Kale said in a recent note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

The initial members include Lilia Calderu, a divination witch; Jennifer Kale, a potions expert; Alice Wu-Gulliver, a protection witch; and Sharon Davis, a.k.a.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2024

She proposed to Ngima Kale Sherpa, Fischer’s Base Camp sirdar, that they assemble a team of Sherpas to take Ngawang down the valley on foot.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer