mirliton

noun

mir·​li·​ton ˌmir-lə-ˈtōⁿ 

plural mirlitons

: the pear-shaped fruit of a West Indian annual vine (Sechium edule) of the gourd family that is widely cultivated as a vegetable : chayote

Louisiana fills its birds with oyster dressing and adds side dishes of baked plantains and a local squash called mirliton.

—Horace Sutton

Recommended are any of the gumbos, the stuffed mirliton, and broiled flounder, as well as the bread pudding and carrot cake.

—Stanley Dry

also : the plant

Tomatoes and okra and mirlitons (a kind of gourd or squash) are easily grown …

—Florence Fabricant

Word History

Etymology

Louisiana French

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above