Sabras

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of prickly pear cactus native to the region, often valued for its edible fruit and resilience in arid climates
2. A succulent plant known for its spiny exterior and sweet, fleshy fruit, commonly associated with the landscape of Israel
3. Referring to both the cactus itself and its fruit, this term embodies characteristics of hardiness and cultural significance in certain local cuisines

Etymology: Sabras is the plural of "sabra," and the singular carries a surprising story: it is a Hebrew word, borrowed from Arabic, that Israelis later adopted as a name for themselves. The Arabic "ṣabbār" denotes the prickly pear cactus, the spiny plant whose sweet fruit is the source of the name, and it was applied to native-born Jews in Palestine and later Israel because they were thought to be prickly on the outside but tender within. The Hebrew form entered the language in this sense and became a common self-description for people born in the country. The plural "sabras" therefore refers to the people as a group, though in everyday English it is most often used for the cactus fruit itself, which is sold in markets across Israel and beyond.