angled loofah

noun

variants or less commonly angled luffa
1
: a narrow, cylindrical, green-skinned edible gourd that has ten prominent angular, lengthwise ridges and a spongy, white, mild-flavored flesh and that is typically eaten when immature either cooked, raw, or pickled
Angled loofah looks odd, almost inedible—like a long, skinny gourd with razor-thin ridges—but once you peel, slice, and pickle it, the slightly spongy texture and zucchini-like flavor will take to your burger quite nicely.Kemp Minifie, Gourmet, February 2003

Note: The interior fibrous portion of mature fruits may be dried and used as sponges.

2
: an annual tropical vine (Luffa acutangula) of the gourd family that produces angled loofahs
Angled loofah is cultivated in India, tropical Asia, and parts of the Caribbean …Derek B. Munro and Ernest Small, Vegetables of Canada, 1997

Note: Both the fruit and plant are also called Chinese okra, patola, ribbed gourd, ridged gourd, and ridge gourd.

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of angled loofah was in 1987

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near angled loofah

Cite this Entry

“Angled loofah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/angled%20loofah. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!