cucurbitologist

[prettygoodword]

Theme week! I have some fun polysyllabic ones near each other on my list, so I've grouped them together for some sesquipedalian fun.


cucurbitologist (kyoo-kur-bi-TOL-oh-jist) - n., someone who studies or cultivates Cucurbitaceae.


That is to say, members of the family that includes gourds, melons, squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers. Ye pumpkin farmer is a cucurbitologist. Coined from Latin cucurbita, gourd -- which is not a complete stretch, as cucurbit meaning gourd (and the gourd-shaped portion of an alembic) dates back to Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French.

The word came to my attention from someone describing Linus Van Pelt from Peanuts as a cryptocucurbitologist.

---L.

Comments

I wish I didn't hold a pure anti-AI position

[jesse_the_k]

because I'm wondering what an AI image generator would do in response to a prompt: oil painting of a cryptocucurbitologist

Re: I wish I didn't hold a pure anti-AI position

[prettygoodword]

Heh. 😈

[musigneus]

I've met several interesting new words since I started following your posts, but I must say I never realized how much I needed to know that this word exists! (Not for any practical reason, just because it is delightful.) Also, Linus the cryptocucurbitologist is hilarious.

[prettygoodword]

This week is all about the delightful but rarely practical words.

[minoanmiss]

That was full_metal_ox who made the observation about Linus, and every time I think of her comment I smile.