gourd
/ɡʊəd
/ /ɡɔːd /noun
1A fleshy, typically large fruit with a hard skin, some varieties of which are edible.Modern Hopi farmers still use the old methods, raising mainly corn, melons, gourds, and many varieties of beans....
- The gourds or fruits, which are about 5 cm long, yellowish-white, and prickled on the upper part, are cooked as a vegetable, notably in Peru.
- It is eaten with vegetables such as onion, garlic, eggplant, and a variety of gourds according to the season.
1.1A drinking or water container made from the hollowed and dried skin of a gourd.The only thing they seem to do more then butchering animals in Uruguay, is drink Mate, a sort of super strong version of green tea that is drunk from a gourd through a silver straw....
- Ancient historical documents describe the use of crude containers, such as gourds, leaves, shells, animal skins, and even human skulls.
- She saw other people further down the river, taking drinks or filling gourds.
2A climbing or trailing plant which bears gourds.
- Family Cucurbitaceae (the gourd family): several genera and species, including the coloured ornamental gourds (Cucurbita pepo variety ovifera). The gourd family also includes the marrows, squashes, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers.
- Sometimes pumpkins or gourds are planted instead of squash.
- Other unusual plants include bottle gourds whose beautiful ornamental shapes were used for hundreds of years by native Americans to carry and store water.
Phrases
out of one's gourd
Derivatives
gourdful
- I guarantee SAT scores would soar if high schoolers knew their academic efforts would be celebrated with a gourdful of mountain-brewed beer.
- A bowlful of rice to eat, a gourdful of water to drink, and living in a mean dwelling; all this is hardship others would find intolerable.
- A gourdful of the drink is taken upon rising in the early morning, and no food is eaten until 10 or 11 o'clock.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French gourde, based on Latin cucurbita.