noun
Common
cole
kohl
Cole (noun) means an old word for cabbage or related plants of the Brassica family. Example: “Old gardening books recommend sowing cole in early spring for winter greens.”
noun
1
An old word for cabbage or related plants of the Brassica family.
"Old gardening books recommend sowing cole in early spring for winter greens."
"The recipe in the old cookbook called for cole boiled with bacon."
"Farmers once grew cole in these fields for both food and oil."
How to use cole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned term for cabbage-family plants; it survives today mainly inside compound words like coleslaw.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- coles
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Old gardening books recommend sowing _____ in early spring for winter greens.
Etymology
From Old English cawel, itself borrowed early from Latin caulis meaning "cabbage" — a relative of the words kale and cauliflower.
Related words
Rhymes for cole
See all rhymes for cole →Frequently asked questions
What does “cole” mean?
The word “cole” means an old word for cabbage or related plants of the Brassica family. In plain terms, an old-fashioned term for cabbage-family plants; it survives today mainly inside compound words like coleslaw.
How do you pronounce “cole”?
“Cole” is pronounced kohl (/koʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “cole” in a sentence?
Here is “cole” used in a sentence: “Farmers once grew cole in these fields for both food and oil.”
What part of speech is “cole”?
“Cole” is a noun.
Where does the word “cole” come from?
The word “cole” comes from Latin. From Old English cawel, itself borrowed early from Latin caulis meaning "cabbage" — a relative of the words kale and cauliflower.
Is “cole” a common word?
“Cole” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is cole an old word for?
Cole is an old word for cabbage or related plants of the Brassica family. It survives today mainly in compound words rather than on its own. The plants it refers to include cabbages, kale, and similar leafy vegetables.
Is cole related to the word coleslaw?
Yes, cole is the source of the cole in coleslaw, which combines this old word for cabbage with the word for salad. Coleslaw is essentially a cabbage salad, reflecting cole's meaning. The connection explains why coleslaw is cabbage-based.
What is the difference between cole and kale?
Cole is a general old word for cabbage and related plants of the Brassica family, while kale is one specific member of that family with dark, curly or flat leaves. Kale falls under the broad group that cole once named. Cole is rarely used alone in modern English, whereas kale is an everyday word.
