Benincasa

noun

Ben·​in·​ca·​sa

ˌbe-nən-ˈkä-sə

: a small genus of Asian herbaceous vines (family Cucurbitaceae) with large yellow flowers and fleshy fruit that is used for pickles see wax gourd

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, after Giuseppe Benincasa, 16th century Italian who developed the botanical garden at Pisa

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!