Citrullus

noun

Ci·​trul·​lus

-ləs

: a genus of African plants (family Cucurbitaceae) having pinnatifid leaves, small sepals, solitary staminate flowers, a corolla 5-parted to the base, and fleshy succulent fruits and including the widely cultivated watermelon and the colocynth

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin citrullus, citrolus, a kind of cucumber, from (assumed) Old Italian dialect citrulo (Italian cetriolo), from (assumed) Vulgar Latin citriolum, from Late Latin citrium, a kind of cucumber, from Latin, citron, from citrus

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