nopal
(ˈnəʊpəl)
[a. Sp. nopal (also Pg. and F.; It. nopale), ad. Mexican nopalli cactus.
The compound nopalnocheztli, given in some Dicts. as the source of nopal or Nopalea, is really the name for cochineal.]
1. An American species of cactus (Opuntia or Nopalea cochinellifera) cultivated for the support of the cochineal-insect.
| 1730 Rutty in Phil. Trans. XXXVI. 265 These Pastles are then placed upon the Plants of the Nopal, or Prickly Indian Fig. 1783 Justamond tr. Raynal's Hist. Indies III. 351 This shrub, which is know'n by the name of nopal, or Indian fig, is about five feet high... There are several species of nopal. 1851 Mayne Reid Scalp-Hunt. i. 14 It is a forest of the Mexican nopal. 1876 Encycl. Brit. IV. 626/2 Plantations of the nopal and the tuna, which are called nopaleries. |
| attrib. 1808 Naval Chron. XXII. 376 The Nopal Plantations in his district. 1855 Kelly tr. Cervantes' Exempl. Novels 241 Seated together under a nopal-tree. 1866 Treas. Bot. 187/2 O. cochinellifera, the Nopal plant. |
2. A plant of this kind.
| 1808 Naval Chron. XXII. 377 The Nopals being agreeably acid. 1832 MacGillivray Trav. Humboldt vi. 81 The negro..led them through a wood of nopals to the hut of an Indian. 1861 Hulme Moquin-Tandon ii. iii. i. 73 A certain number of nopals are planted around the houses. |