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

An hour's drive north of New York City, the greenhouses at Cropsey Farm are seeing their first leaves of kale, spinach and arugula emerge.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

It is naturally present in foods such as orange peppers, spinach, and kale.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

Neat rows of collard greens and kale stretch across irrigated beds, while orchards of peach trees — the ranch’s signature fruit — appear throughout the property.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

That half-bag of kale, the lonely carrot, the dried-out bread—it’s all raw material.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

And the third—now being prepared—is something boring involving kale, radishes, and walnuts.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller