Nopal — No pal, n. [Mexican nopalli.] (Bot.) A cactaceous plant ({Nopalea cochinellifera}), originally Mexican, on which the cochineal insect feeds, and from which it is collected. The name is sometimes given to other species of {Cactace[ae]}. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cochineal fig — noun or cochineal cactus or cochineal plant : a cactus (Nopalea cochinellifera) of Central and So. America that is widely cultivated as food for the cochineal insect … Useful english dictionary
Opuntia — Prickly pears Opuntia littoralis var. vaseyi Scientific classification Kingdom … Wikipedia
nopal — [nō′pəl, nō päl′] n. [Sp < Nahuatl noʾpalli, prickly pear cactus] any of a genus (Nopalea) of cactuses with red flowers, esp. a tropical prickly pear ( N. cochinellifera) … English World dictionary
nopal — n. any American cactus of the genus Nopalea, esp. N. cochinellifera grown in plantations for breeding cochineal. Etymology: F & Sp. f. Nahuatl nopalli cactus … Useful english dictionary