citron melon

American  

noun

1. a round, hard-fleshed watermelon, Citrullus lanatus citroides, used candied or pickled.

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Etymology

Origin of citron melon

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10

Example Sentences

The citron melon, which grows in southern Africa, is one popular candidate for the watermelon’s ancient ancestor.

From National Geographic • Aug. 21, 2015

The fruits are grapes, hazel, walnut, almond, pistachio, currant, mulberry, fig, apricot, peach, apple, pear, quince, plum, lemon, citron, melon, berries of various kinds, and a few oranges.

From The Contemporary Review, January 1883 Vol 43, No. 1 by Various

By crossing the watermelon on the citron melon, a watermelon that is resistant to wilt has recently been developed and successfully grown in soils in which wilt is present.

From Agriculture for Beginners Revised Edition by Burkett, Charles William

The fruit, sometimes called monkey-bread, is about the size of a citron melon.

From The World and Its People: Book VII Views in Africa by Badlam, Anna B.