Pepon
/ˈpiː.pən/noun
A fleshy, many-seeded fruit with a firm rind, such as a melon, cucumber, squash, or pumpkin.
Did you know?Pepon comes from Ancient Greek πέπων, meaning “ripe” or “soft,” derived from a verb meaning “to cook” or “to digest”—as if sunlight cooked the fruit from within.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pekʷ-
“To cook, ripen, or become softened by heat”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πέπων (pepōn)
“Ripe, mellow, or softened; especially a ripe gourd or melon”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πέσσειν (pessein)
“To cook, soften, or digest”
Classical Latin
Latin
pepō
“A melon or gourd”
16th Century
English
pepon
“A melon or similar fleshy fruit”
Modern English
English
pepon
“A botanical fruit with a firm rind and many seeds, including melons, cucumbers, and squash”