Cucurbit
/ˈkjuːkərbɪt/noun
A plant of the gourd family, especially a squash, pumpkin, or cucumber.
Did you know?Cucurbit is a learned botanical term from Latin cucurbita, and while it sounds almost spell-like, its history is tied to garden plants rather than magic or demons.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kolokýntha
“A gourd or pumpkin-like fruit.”
Latin
Latin
cucurbita
“A gourd, squash, or pumpkin.”
Middle English
English
cucurbite
“A gourd; later, a vessel or vessel-shaped container.”
16th Century
English
cucurbit
“A gourd plant or a vessel shaped like a gourd.”
Modern English
English
cucurbit
“A plant of the gourd family, especially a squash, pumpkin, or cucumber.”
Explore more surprising origins