kaalblad, noun

/ˈkɑːlblat/
Forms:
Also kaalblaar, kahlblad.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, kaal bare + blad, blaar leaf.
Any of several spineless or semi-spineless plants of the genus Opuntia (prickly-pears).
1877 Queenstown Free Press 4 Sept.The Kaalblad is not only safe, but the birds evince a decided liking for its leaves and fruit.
1885 S. Afr. Exhibition 1885 290 (Pettman)The Kaal-blad is a ‘sport’ of the ‘prickly pear,’ but the seeds yield for the most part the original prickly pear.
1890 A. Martin Home Life 57One kind [of prickly pear], the kahlblad, or ‘blad leaf,’ has no thorns.
1906 F. Blersch Handbk of Agric. 256In some localities the thornless Opuntia, or kaal blad, is considered a valuable plant during seasons of drought.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 237Kaalblad,..The variety of the prickly pear (Opuntia), the leaves of which are almost bare of thorns. Whether this is really a variety or only a ‘sport’ is not quite clear; it appears to revert very quickly to the prickly type.
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 43Kaalblad, The thornless variety (by artificial selection) of the common Prickly pear.
1942 S. Cloete Hill of Doves 7The orchard wall was backed by a thick hedge of kaalblad, whose big leaves were like flat, dull-green hands.
1942 S. Cloete Hill of Doves 328‘Brandy made from the fruit of the kaalblad.’ ‘I have never had brandy made from prickly pears.’
Any of several spineless or semi-spineless plants of the genus Opuntia (prickly-pears).
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Afrikaans
kaal, adjectiveadj.kaalgat, adjectiveadj.
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