callaloo

noun

cal·​la·​loo ˌka-lə-ˈlü How to pronounce callaloo (audio)
ˈka-lə-ˌlü
1
: the edible young green leaves of a plant (such as taro or a member of the genus Xanthosoma) of the arum family used as greens
2
: a soup or stew made with greens, onions, and crabmeat or pork

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Take the soup known as callaloo. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 20 June 2022 Some of the people who were captured and enslaved in West and Central Africa starting as early as the 1500s brought seeds for okra, yams, black-eyed peas, plantains, callaloo greens, breadfruit, mangos, ackee fruit, watermelon and peppers to the New World. Nikki O'neill, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2023 While not widespread garden pests because many of our other vegetables don’t suit them, this particular flea beetle can still hamper the productivity of callaloo. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2023 One of the most beloved and musically named Caribbean dishes is callaloo. Tamerra Griffin, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Oct. 2022 The shop also sells salads, sides, nonalcoholic beverages and Saturday-only specials of ackee, callaloo and fried dumplings. Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 6 Oct. 2022 This version was vegetarian (though it’s often punctuated with salted beef or pork), a hearty mix of potatoes, carrots, wilted spinach-esque callaloo and toothsome dumplings. Nevin Martell, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 Or the aforementioned callaloo, whose surface of red oil hints at the cayenne punch to come and whose body is deeper for a splash of oxtail juice. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 10 June 2022 As one of Trinidad and Tobago’s unofficial national dishes (callaloo is another), pelau is a homegrown darling and its widespread appeal goes beyond its luscious and spiky bite. Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'callaloo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Caribbean English, perhaps ultimately of African origin; akin to Caribbean Spanish calalú callaloo (greens and dish), Brazilian Portuguese carurú, Haitian Creole kalalou okra

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of callaloo was in 1696

Dictionary Entries Near callaloo

Cite this Entry

“Callaloo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/callaloo. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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