CAULIFLOWER

[cau.li.flow.er] n, often attrib [It cavolfiore, fr. cavolo cabbage (fr. LL caulus, fr. L caulis stem, cabbage) + fiore flower, fr. L flor-, flos--more at cole, blow] (1597): a garden plant (Brassica oleracea botrytis) related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usu. white undeveloped flowers; also: its flower cluster used as a vegetable