kola nut

noun

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ko·la nut | \ ˈkō-lə-

variants: or less commonly cola nut

Definition of kola nut

: the bitter caffeine-containing chestnut-sized seed of a kola tree used especially as a masticatory and in beverages

Examples of kola nut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Among the medicinal and food staples introduced by the African diaspora were sorghum, millet, African rice, yams, black-eyed peas, watermelon, eggplant, okra, sesame and kola nut, whose extract was a main ingredient in the original Coca-Cola recipe. — Jessica Damiano, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Feb. 2022 Plus, a blend of ingredients like caffeine, kola nut extract, and sea whip extract help to reduce redness. — Victoria Moorhouse, Forbes, 28 May 2021 Meletti and Ramazzotti are both made from kola nut, the same ingredient used to create the distinct caramelly flavors of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper. — Laura Itzkowitz, Saveur, 13 Apr. 2018 The breaking of kola nut, known as iwa oji, is an important Igbo ritual traditionally performed to welcome guests to a gathering. — Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, The New Yorker, 11 July 2019 On the day of the initiation, John was given a shopping list: candles, bug spray, a kola nut (a caffeinated nut native to West Africa), razor blades, and 10,000 Nigerian naira (around thirty dollars)—his bamming fee. — Sean Williams, Harper's magazine, 19 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kola nut.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.