A melon is a large, juicy fruit with a thick rind and sweet, watery flesh, such as watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew. Melons usually grow on vines in warm climates.
From Old French “melon”, from Late Latin “melo”, short for “melopepo”, from Greek “mēlopepōn” meaning 'apple‑gourd', combining “mēlon” 'apple' and “pepōn” 'ripe gourd'. The name reflects how the fruit was seen as a cross between familiar fruits and gourds. It entered English in the Middle Ages with imported varieties.
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