kiwano
kiwano Lexical Profile
• noun
An edible fruit native to Sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by an orange, spike-studded rind and gelatinous, lime-green flesh with a tart, refreshing flavor resembling a mix of cucumber, banana, and melon.
"The chef garnished the tropical dessert with the vibrant green, jelly-like seeds scooped fresh from a kiwano."
The annual vine in the cucumber and melon family (Cucurbitaceae) that produces the horned melon fruit, grown primarily in semi-arid regions of Africa and commercially in New Zealand and California.
"Farmers in the drought-prone region decided to plant kiwano, as the vine is highly resilient to dry conditions."
• Rhymes for kiwano
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in New Zealand in the 1930s to 1980s as a trademarked marketing name for the African horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus), chosen to sound exotic yet familiar by mimicking the word 'kiwi'. It has since become a genericized term for the fruit.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.