NOPAL

[ 'nəʊp(ə)l , 'nəʊpal ]

■ noun a Mexican cactus which is a major food plant of the cochineal insect. [Genus Nopalea .]

↘( ~es nəʊ'pα:lɛz ) the edible fleshy pads of this cactus, used in Mexican cuisine.

Origin

C18: via Fr. and Sp. from Nahuatl ~li .