Etymology From 16th century cole-florye, equivalent to cole (from Latin caulis) + flower, reformed to more closely match the Latin etymon.By surface analysis, caul(is) + -i- + flower. Cognate with French chou-fleur, Italian cavolfiore.
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Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, an annual variety of cabbage, of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable.
ASPARAGUS, cauliflowers, imperial Sileſia, royal and cabbage lettuces, burnet, purſlain, cucumbers, naſturtian flowers, peaſe and beans ſown in October, artichokes, ſcarlet ſtrawberries, and kidney beans.1767, A Lady [Hannah Glasse], The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Eaſy […] , page 326:
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The edible head or curd of a cauliflower plant.
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The swelling of a cauliflower ear.
His ears were small (fortunately so, given his dramatic hairstyle) and bore no traditional cauliflowers.2018, John Harding, The Whitechapel Whirlwind: The Jack Kid Berg Story:
Etymology From 16th century cole-florye, equivalent to cole (from Latin caulis) + flower, reformed to more closely match the Latin etymon.By surface analysis, caul(is) + -i- + flower. Cognate with French chou-fleur, Italian cavolfiore.
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Ambitransitive To (cause to) swell up like a cauliflower ear.
I noticed his right ear was badly cauliflowered and that explained a number of things. It wasn't a new job of cauliflowering.1947, Elliott Chaze, The Stainless Steel Kimono, page 49:
Returning to your first point, the cauliflowering of magnesite bricks — we presume that this is due to your using high concentrations of oxygen for blowing the furnace, giving high checker-temperatures.1960, Transactions of the British Ceramic Society, page 281:
1 more example
The soft steel of the back edge by now has cauliflowered over from hammering on it.1974, Alexander G. Weygers, The Modern Blacksmith, page 39: