kola nut

noun

ko·​la nut ˈkō-lə- How to pronounce kola nut (audio)
variants or less commonly cola 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 Red drinks and food are key parts of the holiday—the importance of the color red for Juneteenth is linked to the West African plants hibiscus and kola nut. Klancy Miller, Vogue, 16 June 2023 The main ingredients in Hydroxycut include green coffee bean extract, chromium picolinate, kola nut extract, Garcinia cambogia extract, Phaseolamin (white kidney bean extract), and added caffeine. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022 Ozioma, his landlord, entered with a bowl of sliced kola nut seeds. Wired, 1 Sep. 2021 Stimulant Complex 750 mg - Contains caffeine, kola nut, guarana, yerba mate, raspberry ketones, coleus forskohlii, and evodiamine. Matt Cooper, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022 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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kola nut.' 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

kola, perhaps modification of Malinke kolo kola nut

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kola nut was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near kola nut

Cite this Entry

“Kola nut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kola%20nut. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

kola nut

noun
ko·​la nut ˈkō-lə- How to pronounce kola nut (audio)
: the bitter seed of an African tree containing much caffeine and used in beverages and medicine for its stimulating effect

Medical Definition

kola nut

noun
ko·​la nut
variants also cola nut
: the bitter caffeine-containing chestnut-sized seed of a kola tree used especially as a masticatory and in beverages

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