cala

1 of 2

noun (1)

ca·​la
kəˈlä
plural -s
: a Creole fried cake made mainly of rice

cala

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈkalə
variants or cali
ˈkalē
plural -s
: picnic ham

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

of African origin; akin to Vai ko1lo3 uncooked rice, Bambara kala stalk of a cereal

Noun (2)

short for California ham

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near cala

Cite this Entry

“Cala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cala. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!