squash

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun any of numerous annual trailing plants of the genus Cucurbita grown for their fleshy edible fruits
  2. noun edible fruit of a squash plant; eaten as a vegetable
  3. noun a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets

Etymology

From Middle English squachen, squatchen, from Old French esquacher, escachier, from Vulgar Latin *excoāctiāre, from Latin ex + coāctāre. Probably influenced by Middle English quashen, quassen, from Old French esquasser, escasser (“to crush, shatter, destroy, break”), from Vulgar Latin *exquassare, from Latin ex- + quassare (“to shatter”) (see quash).

In classic literature

Synonyms

squash vine

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