cabbage palm

noun

1. any of several palms, especially those of the genus Euterpe, having terminal leaf buds that are eaten as a vegetable or in salads.
2. cabbage tree ( def 2 ).

cabbage palm

noun

1. a West Indian palm, Roystonea (or Oreodoxa ) oleracea, whose leaf buds are eaten like cabbage
2. a similar Brazilian palm, Euterpe oleracea
3. an Australian palm tree, Livistona australis
4. any of several plants of the genus Cordyline , grown as ornamentals: family Agavaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of cabbage palm¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Since a time when the island was predominantly tangles of black mangrove, saw palmetto and cabbage palms, beachgoers have used Root Trail to reach the ocean.

From Washington Times

I grew up shooting on a milk crate nailed to a cabbage palm tree in South Florida.

From Los Angeles Times

A short trail led through a cluster of cabbage palms towards the front door, where my father’s wife was waiting.

From Literature

Painted buntings and summer tanagers flash among cabbage palms.

From The Guardian

They record the tree’s GPS coordinates and add it to the list of cabbage palms with hand ferns.

From Seattle Times