cucumber
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English cucumer, cucumber, from Old French cocombre, ultimately from Latin cucumis, cucumerem (possibly through an Old Occitan intermediate). Probably of Pre-Italic substrate origin.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈkjuːˌkʌmbɚ/
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkjuːˌkʌmbə/
- (obsolete) IPA(key): /ˈkaʊˌkʌmbɚ/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun[edit]
cucumber (plural cucumbers)
- A vine in the gourd family, Cucumis sativus.
- 1767, A Lady [Hannah Glasse], The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Eaſy […] [1], page 326:
- ASPARAGUS, cauliflowers, imperial Sileſia, royal and cabbage lettuces, burnet, purſlain, cucumbers, naſturtian flowers, peaſe and beans ſown in October, artichokes, ſcarlet ſtrawberries, and kidney beans.
- The edible fruit of this plant, having a green rind and crisp white flesh.
- Synonym: (informal) cuke
- 1785, James Boswell, quoting Samuel Johnson, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnſon […] [2], London: Henry Baldwin, page 356:
- […] for it has been a common ſaying of phyſicians in England, that a cucumber ſhould be well ſliced, and dreſſed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing.
- 1837, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, Ethel Churchill, volume 2, page 14:
- "Why, pepper and salt your reasons!" cried Curl, forgetting to look at the door for a moment: "your pamphlet has talent; but talent is like a cucumber, nothing without the dressing. You must be more personal."
- A person who is calm and self-possessed.
- 1986, Linking Technology and Users, page 41:
- Just a few tips will help even the most anxious of us get a bit of control over the presentation of information and thus appear to be that "cool cucumber" in cognito!
- 1999, Mark Grantham, The Brewery, page 275:
- The guy's a real cucumber.
- 2002, Margaret Fisher, Putting on Mock Trials, page 29:
- That Wolf is one cool cucumber.
- 2018, Derek B. Miller, American By Day, page 65:
- "You're smart," says Irv, pointing at her and nodding his head. "A smart cucumber."
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
- cucumiform (cucumber-shaped)
Coordinate terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
plant
|
|
edible fruit
|
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Further reading[edit]
Middle English[edit]
Noun[edit]
cucumber
- Alternative form of cucumer
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Old Occitan
- English terms derived from substrate languages
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with quotations
- en:Gourd family plants
- en:Vegetables
- English spelling pronunciations
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English nouns