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Definition of gem squash
gem squash
Plural:gem squashes
gem squash Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
South African A small, spherical variety of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) characterized by its dark green skin and pale yellow flesh, widely grown and consumed as a culinary vegetable in Southern Africa.
Example
"For Sunday lunch, we enjoyed a traditional spread that included roasted lamb and halved gem squashes filled with melted butter and sweetcorn."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for gem squashWord Origin & Etymology
A variety of Cucurbita pepo developed in South Africa. The name combines 'gem', alluding to its small, smooth, spherical appearance, and 'squash', derived from the Narragansett Native American word 'askutasquash'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gem squash. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gem squash