cantaloupe

or can·ta·loup

[ kan-tl-ohp ]

noun

1. a variety of melon, Cucumis melo cantalupensis, of the gourd family, having a hard scaly or warty rind, grown in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
2. a muskmelon having a reticulated rind and pale-orange flesh.

cantaloupe

/ ˈkæntəˌluːp /

noun

1. a cultivated variety of muskmelon, Cucumis melo cantalupensis, with ribbed warty rind and orange flesh
2. any of several other muskmelons

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantaloupe¹

First recorded in 1730–40; from French, allegedly after Cantaluppi, a papal estate near Rome where cultivation of this melon is said to have begun in Europe, though a comparable Italian word is not attested until much later than the French word, and Cantaloup, a village in Languedoc, has also been proposed as the source

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantaloupe¹

C18: from French, from Cantaluppi, former papal villa near Rome, where it was first cultivated in Europe

Example Sentences

It was her quirky sense of color—deep burgundy paired with corn-flower blue, pine green, and faded cantaloupe.

From The Daily Beast

Place this in the cantaloupe shells after cutting points in the top edge.

From Project Gutenberg

Garnish with the balls cut from the cantaloupe and serve with any desired dressing.

From Project Gutenberg

This woman was old and careworn; her face was lined like the rind of a cantaloupe.

From Project Gutenberg

Add the cantaloupe and simmer slowly until fruit is transparent (about 45 minutes).

From Project Gutenberg

He laid down the spoon with which he was delving into a half of a cantaloupe and got quickly to his feet to greet her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• melon