÷ˈpəŋkə̇n, ˈpəm(p)kə̇n noun
or pun·kin ˈpəŋkə̇n
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: alteration (influenced by -kin ) of pumpion, pompion, modification of Middle French popon, pompon pumpkin, melon, from Latin pepon-, pepo, from Greek pepōn an edible gourd, from pepōn cooked by sun, ripe, from peptein, pessein to cook, ripen, digest — more at cook
1.
a. : any of various usually firm-rinded fruits of vines of the genus Cucurbita that are widely cultivated as a vegetable, for pies, and for livestock feed:
(1) : any of numerous usually large rounded and deep yellow to orange fruits produced by plants that are horticultural varieties of the natural species ( C. pepo ) ; also : summer squash
(2) : a fruit similarly used that is produced by horticultural varieties of the natural species ( C. moschata ) : a winter crookneck squash : cushaw — called also squash
(3) Britain : any of various large-fruited winter squashes that are produced by horticultural varieties of the natural species ( C. maxima )
b. or pumpkin vine : a plant that bears pumpkins and is usually a strong-growing prickly vine with large lobed leaves and with yellow flowers having erect corolla lobes
2.
a. : a lumbering person or body : chump
b. : a very important person or place — usually used in plural and chiefly in the phrase some pumpkins
a man of learning is supposed to be some pumpkins — J.F.Dobie
3. : a strong orange that is lighter than mandarin orange, redder, less strong, and slightly darker than Princeton orange, redder and duller than cadmium orange, and redder and deeper than cadmium yellow