Cabbage /(kăb"bā̇j)/

Cab·bage

Cabbage

n.
  1. An esculent vegetable of many varieties, derived from the wild Brassica oleracea of Europe. The common cabbage has a compact head of leaves. The cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc., are sometimes classed as cabbages. (Bot.)
  2. The terminal bud of certain palm trees, used, like, cabbage, for food. See Cabbage tree, below.
  3. The cabbage palmetto. See below.

Phrases & Compounds
Cabbage aphis
a green plant-louse (Aphis brassicæ) which lives upon the leaves of the cabbage.
Cabbage beetle
a small, striped flea-beetle (Phyllotreta vittata) which lives, in the larval state, on the roots, and when adult, on the leaves, of cabbage and other cruciferous plants.
Cabbage fly
a small two-winged fly (Anthomyia brassicæ), which feeds, in the larval or maggot state, on the roots of the cabbage, often doing much damage to the crop.
Cabbage head
the compact head formed by the leaves of a cabbage; -- contemptuously or humorously, and colloquially, a very stupid and silly person; a numskull.
Cabbage palmetto
a species of palm tree (Sabal Palmetto) found along the coast from North Carolina to Florida.
Cabbage rose
a species of rose (Rosa centifolia) having large and heavy blossoms.
Cabbage tree
a name given to palms having a terminal bud called a cabbage, as the Sabal Palmetto of the United States, and the Euterpe oleracea and Oreodoxa oleracea of the West Indies.
Sea cabbage
Sea kale
Thousand-headed cabbage
See Brussels sprouts.

Cabbage

v. i.
  1. To form a head like that the cabbage; as, to make lettuce cabbage.

Cabbage

v. i.

imp. & p. p. Cabbaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Cabbaging

  1. To purloin or embezzle, as the pieces of cloth remaining after cutting out a garment; to pilfer.
    Your tailor . . . cabbages whole yards of cloth.

Cabbage

n.
  1. Cloth or clippings cabbaged or purloined by one who cuts out garments.