kale

noun

1
a
: a hardy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) with curled often finely incised leaves that do not form a dense head
also : its leaves used as a vegetable
b
: cole
2
slang : money

Examples of kale in a Sentence

trying to scrape up the kale to buy more dope
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is the place to load up on fiber, with a weekend menu that includes an omelette filled with butternut squash and leeks, then topped with a kale and sesame salad, or a thick sourdough toast piled high with cannellini beans, roasted radicchio and hazelnuts, with dill sprinkled on top. Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 1 May 2025 Add the cabbage or kale and the white parts of the scallions. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 A couple of my favorites included a chicken tikka masala and crab cakes with potatoes and kale. Sarah Garone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025 Farm workers in a greenhouse plant tiny kale and marigold seeds into plastic trays, while others harvest leafy bunches of spinach. Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kale

Word History

Etymology

Scots, from Middle English (northern) cal, from Old English cāl — more at cole

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of kale was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kale. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

kale

noun
: a hardy cabbage with curly leaves that do not form a head

More from Merriam-Webster on kale

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!