The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word COLE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
O
L
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "something that associates Cabbages with Kings" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case something that associates cabbages with kings = cole.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does COLE mean?
COLE noun- Cabbage.
- Brassica; a plant of the Brassica genus, especially those of Brassica oleracea (rape and coleseed).
- A stack or stook of hay.