nopal

[ noh-puhl, noh-pahl, -pal ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

nopal

/ ˈnəʊpəl /

any of various cactuses of the genus Nopalea, esp the red-flowered N. cochinellifera, which is a host plant of the cochineal insect
See prickly pear
a cactus, Opuntia lindheimeri, having yellow flowers and purple fruits See also prickly pear

Origin of nopal¹

1720–30; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl nohpalli

Origin of nopal¹

C18: from Spanish, from Nahuatl nopálli cactus

Several plantations of nopal, or cactus, were laid out, and the first harvest was gathered in 1858.

Illness may also result from small stones, or the spine of the nopal placed in the body by the same agency.

In the central part of the country they use a spear made of a thin reed and tipped with thorns of the nopal.

The "nopal" or prickly pears have been rooted up, as well as most of the vines and figs.

"I think he is going to make an offering of the new bow to Chinigchinich," answered Nopal.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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