The French roots of the word 'cantaloupe'

'Cantaloupe' is a word borrowed from French 'cantaloup'. The word entered the English language some time around 1739.

cantaloupe [noun] [1739]

• a small widely cultivated muskmelon (Cucumis melo reticulatus) with a heavily netted rind and reddish-orange flesh
• muskmelon
• a muskmelon (Cucumis melo cantalupensis) with a rough hard warty rind that is not usually grown in North America

Meaning: a small widely cultivated muskmelon ( Cucumis melo reticulatus ) with a heavily netted rind and reddish-orange flesh; muskmelon a; a muskmelon ( Cucumis melo cantalupensis ) with a rough hard warty rind that is not usually grown in North America.

Etymology: Cantalupo; former papal villa near Rome; Italy.

Topics: Plants:Fruits, Food:Sweets, Geography:Regions.

Origin: From Italian to French to English.

note: A sweet orange fleshed muskmelon named after Cantalupo near Rome borrowed via French cantaloup from Italian place name.

See 'cantaloupe' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

See more loan words from 1700s.