A tropical American plant producing a large, warty gourd with edible seeds and flesh, used in traditional cuisine.
From Nahuatl 'chilacayotl,' combining elements meaning chili and squash/gourd, a pre-Columbian cultivated plant that retained its indigenous name through Spanish colonization.
The chilacayote is a near-forgotten crop that deserves revival—it's extremely drought-tolerant and nutritious, and the Nahuatl name itself tells you it was a staple food before Columbus, representing agricultural knowledge we've largely abandoned.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.