Pepo
/ˈpiːpoʊ/noun
A fleshy, many-seeded berry with a hard rind, characteristic of plants such as pumpkins, cucumbers, and melons.
Did you know?Pepo comes from a Greek word related to digestion and cooking, because ancient Greek speakers connected ripeness with being softened or “cooked” by heat.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pekw-
“to cook, ripen, or become softened by heat”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πέπων (pepōn)
“ripe, soft, or a ripe melon”
Classical Latin
Latin
pepō
“a melon or gourd-like fruit”
Medieval Latin
Latin
pepo
“a botanical term for a fleshy fruit with a firm rind”
17th Century
English
pepo
“a botanical fruit type, especially one found in gourds and melons”
Modern English
English
pepo
“a hard-rinded, many-seeded berry such as a pumpkin, cucumber, or melon”