NOPAL

noun (plural ~s or ~es) Etymology: Spanish, from Nahuatl nohpalli Date: 1730 any of a genus ( Nopalea ) of cacti of Mexico and Central America that differ from the prickly pears in having erect petals and scarlet flowers with the stamens much longer than the petals, a fleshy young tender stem segment of the prickly pear cactus (especially Opuntia ficus-indica ) or the ~ cactus used as food