winter melon

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Calque of Chinese 冬瓜 (dōngguā).

winter melon (plural winter melons)

1. Benincasa hispida, a species of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) commonly cultivated in Asia.

• ash gourd, ash pumpkin, Chinese preserving melon, fuzzy melon, tallow gourd, wax gourd, white gourd, winter gourd

Calque of French melon d'hiver or German Wintermelone.

winter melon (plural winter melons)

1. Any late-maturing variety of true melon (Cucumis melo), such as honeydew melon (Inodorus Group), Cassaba melon (Cassaba Group), and Spanish melon (Ibericus Group).

• late melon

winter melon (plural winter melons)

1. (obsolete) A type of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus).
   • 1699, John Evelyn, Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets:

     There is also a winter-melon, large and with black seeds, exceedingly cooling, brought us from abroad, and the hotter climates, where they drink water after eating melons...