Cauliflower

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: cau=li=flow=er

CIDE DICTIONARY

Cauliflower, n. [F. choufleur, modified by E. Cole. L. caulis, and by E. flower; F. chou cabbage is fr. L. caulis stalk, cabbage, and fleur flower is fr. L. flos flower. See Cole, and Flower.].

•  An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage, of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable.  [1913 Webster]
•  The edible head or “curd” of a cauliflower plant.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Cauliflower, n.
1 a variety of cabbage with a large immature flower-head of small usu. creamy-white flower-buds.
2 the flower-head eaten as a vegetable.

Idiom

cauliflower cheese a savoury dish of cauliflower in a cheese sauce. cauliflower ear an ear thickened by repeated blows, esp. in boxing.

Etymology

earlier cole-florie etc. f. obs. F chou fleuri flowered cabbage, assim. to COLE and FLOWER