karela

English

Etymology

From Hindi करेला (karelā), from Sanskrit कारवेल्ल (kāravella).

Noun

karela (countable and uncountable, plural karelas)

1. (India) Momordica charantia, the bitter melon or bitter gourd.
   • 1895, Rudyard Kipling, The Second Jungle Book:

     The roofs shall fade before it,
     The house-beams shall fall,
     And the Karela, the bitter Karela,
     Shall cover it all!

   • 1998, Sanjeev Kapoor, Khazana of Indian Recipes:

     Cut karelas into thin slices. Wash and rub two table spoons salt all over the karelas and its scrapings.

   • 2006, Tarla Dalal, Diabetic Snacks, page 22:

     Though unpleasantly bitter, karela tops the list of diabetes-friendly foods.

Anagrams

• Kerala