kail, kale, keal ( Milton ), cale

[From Gael. cal (gen it. cail )=cabbage; Ir. cal; Manx kail; Corn.caal; Wel. cawl; Bret. kaol; cf. Lat. caulis =(1) stalk, (2) cabbage. ( Skeat.).] [COLE.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. The name loosely given in England to all vegetables down to the fifteenth century, and so occasionally used in modern Scotch. "Cale, olus, olusculum."-Cath. Angl . 2. A broth made in Scotland of cabbage, with or without meat. (Jamie son.) "On thee aft Scotland chows her cood, In souple scones, the wale o' food! Or tumblin' in the boiling flood Wi' kail an' beef." Burns : Scotch Drink. 3. A dinner. ( Scotch .) The phrase "Will you come and take your kail wi' me?" is common in Scotland. Cf. the Fr. invitation, "Vouleg-vous venir manger la soupe chez moi?" (Will you come to eat soup with me?] [KAIL-BELL.] "If you will take your kail with us next Sunday, I will glance over your work."- Soott : Surgeon's Daughter. (Pref.) II. Botany: 1. The name now given in Scotland and parts of Northern England to all coleworts-i.e., cabbages ( Bra ica oleracea ). It is usually spelled kail . "The now universal potato was unknown, but [the yards] were stored with kale or colewort."- Scott : Wav erley, ch. viii. 2. The name now given in England to a variety of the Bra ica oleracea , differing from the cabbage in the open heads of its leaves, which are used as "greens," and as food for cattle. There are many varieties, the leaves being sometimes green, some. times reddish-brown, sometimes purplish in color, and plain, waved, curled, or laciniated in form. Usually a biennial plant; it is sometimes perennial, as in the variety known as Milan kale ( chou de Milan ). It is usually spelled kale , and is variously known as borecole, winter greens, German greens, and Scotch kale. [KALE.] beggarly broth. ( Jamie son.) (1) Barefoot, or Barefit kail: A very meager or A broth made with water only. (Jamie son.) (2) Water kail (confined to Lothian, Scotland): 2. Fig .: A scold. ( Scotch .) kail-worm, *cale-worm, *cole-worm, s. I. Ordinary Language: 1. Lit .: Any caterpillar. ( Scotch .) 2 Fig .: A person or thing of no importance. (Ap plied as a term of reproach or contempt.) ( Scotch .) (Scott: Heart of Mid - Lothian , ch. xii.) II. Entom.: The grub that lives on the leaves of the cabbage or colewort, and ultimately becomes the cabbage butterfly ( Pontia bra icæ vel Rapæ , Linn.). kail-yard, s. 1. A cabbage garden. ( Scotch .) "Hardly sense enough to call the cows out o' his kail yard."-Scott: Antiquary , ch. iv. 2. A kitchen garden. ( Scotch .) "The society schoolmaster has with a dwelling house and schoolhouse, a kail - yard with an acre of ground."--Sutherlandsh. Statist . Acct ., iii. 842. 3. An orchard. ( Hall i well : Provincial Dict . kāile, v . i. [Perhaps connected with Mid. Eng. kalen to grow cool; akale =cold.] (Northern English.) To decline in health. ( Hall i well .)