Single crystal of a novel metal organic nonlinear optical (NLO) cadmium (II) dibromide L - proline monohydrate (CBLPM) of size 7 x 7 x 5 mm(3) was grown from slow evaporation technique. Single crystal X - ray diffraction analysis reveals that the crystal belongs to orthorhombic system with lattice parameters a = 10.1891 (8) angstrom, b = 13.4961 (11) angstrom, c = 7.4491 (5) angstrom and space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). The powder X - ray diffraction pattern of CBLPM was recorded and the X - ray diffraction peaks were indexed. The various functional groups of CBLPM were identified by the FT - IR and FT - Raman spectral analyses. The optical transmittance window and lower cut off wavelength of CBLPM were identified from UV - Vis - NIR studies. The mechanical strength of the grown crystal was estimated using Vickers microhardness test. Dielectric constant and dielectric loss measurements were carried out at different temperatures in the frequency range of 50 Hz - 2 MHz. The photoluminescence spectrum was recorded in the wavelength range 200-400 nm and the estimated optical band gap was similar to 4.1 eV. Etching studies were carried out for different etching time. Thermal stability of CBLPM was determined using thermogravimetric analysis. Laser induced damage threshold study was carried out for the grown crystal using Nd:YAG laser. Size dependent second harmonic generation efficiency of the grown crystal was determined by Kurtz and Perry powder technique with different particle size using Nd:YAG laser with wavelength 1064 nm. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the powdered CBLPM crystal was -2.3 times that of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.