gourd

[gawrd, gohrd, goord]

noun

1. the hard-shelled fruit of any of various plants, especially those of Lagenaria siceraria white-flowered gourd, or bottle gourd, whose dried shell is used for bowls and other utensils, and Cucurbita pepo yellow-flowered gourd, used ornamentally.

2. a plant bearing such a fruit.

3. a dried and excavated gourd shell used as a bottle, dipper, flask, etc.

4. a gourd-shaped, small-necked bottle or flask.

gourd

/ ɡʊəd /

noun

1. the fruit of any of various cucurbitaceous or similar plants, esp the bottle gourd and some squashes, whose dried shells are used for ornament, drinking cups, etc

2. any plant that bears this fruit See also sour gourd dishcloth gourd calabash

3. a bottle or flask made from the dried shell of the bottle gourd

4. a small bottle shaped like a gourd

Other Word Forms

• gourdlike adjective
• gourd-shaped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gourd¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English gourd(e), courde, from Anglo-French ( Old French cöorde ), from Latin cucurbita

Word History and Origins

Origin of gourd¹

C14: from Old French gourde, ultimately from Latin cucurbita

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of / off one's gourd, out of one's mind; crazy.

Example Sentences

To help figure out which seeds to use, he built a database that now traces the family trees of thousands of gargantuan gourds back generations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“If a Jack-o’-lantern isn’t your style, use paint, appliqués, and accessories to give your gourds personality,” Stewart suggests.

Read more on Salon

Pumpkins, squash, zucchini, and other members of the gourd family have a surprising trait: they can take up pollutants from the soil and store them in their edible parts.

Read more on Science Daily

At the market, surrounded by gourds and carrots grown in his own garden, Fedir said he had also been jolted awake by the power of the nearby missile strike.

Read more on BBC

Customers are paying them hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars to festoon their homes with gourds of every shape and size.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beaker 
• canteen 
• carafe 
• chalice 
• decanter 
• jug 
• urn 
• vial