cucurbit

plural cucurbits · alternative cucurbita · alternative archaic cucurbite

1. Any member of the family Cucurbitaceae of gourds.

   Our efforts are directed against species of African origin because these include several notorious pests (such as medfly, Ceratitis capitata), as well as some of the most poorly known ones (species of Dacus feeding on cucurbits).

   2022 September 6 (last accessed), United States Department of Agriculture, “Archived copy”, in AFRICAN TEPHRITIDAE: INVASIVE SPECIES THREATENING U.S. FRUIT & VEGETABLE PRODUCTS, archived from the original on 01 Jan 2023

2. obsoleteA receptacle, originally gourd-shaped and used for liquids or chemicals; a bottle or other container.

   When Sulayman saw me, he took refuge with Allah and bade me embrace the True Faith and obey his behests; but I refused, so sending for this cucurbit he shut me up therein, and stopped it over with lead

   1885, Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, volume 1