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

Spinach, arugula, fennel, celery, and kale are also good dietary sources.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

I used to order kale bites, which I’d eat with the meat from the sausage and egg sandwich, but they discontinued them so now I just get the sandwich.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

When her first order, a kale and brussels sprout salad, arrived, she said she was shocked at how big it was.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

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

We don’t speak for the rest of the meal, which isn’t much longer, since I’m just picking at my mac and cheese now and she seems to have lost interest in her kale salad.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon