Main Entry:

chol·la

Pronunciation:

\ˈchȯi-yə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Mexican Spanish, from Spanish, head

Date:

1846

: any of numerous shrubby opuntias chiefly of the southwestern United States and Mexico that have needlelike spines partly enclosed in a papery sheath and cylindrical joints —called also cholla cactus

[cholla illustration]