cantaloupe
UK: ˈkæntəluːp | US: ˈkæntəloʊp
n. a type of sweet, orange-fleshed melon with a rough, netted rind.
cantaloupe = Cantal<place name> + o(u)pe<variant spelling>
- Cantal <from Cantalupo, a papal estate near Rome where the melon was first cultivated in Europe>
- oupe <variant spelling of "-ope," a suffix in French/Italian melon names (e.g., "melopepon" in Greek)>
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Cantalupo, a region in Italy where this melon was grown for the Pope. The name later entered French as cantaloup and English as cantaloupe, retaining its association with the fruit’s Mediterranean origins. The "-oupe" suffix reflects Romance language influences, though the original Greek root melopepon (apple-melon) is obscured in modern spelling.
She sliced a ripe cantaloupe for breakfast.
The market sells cantaloupes imported from Spain.
Cantaloupe pairs well with prosciutto in salads.
The sweetness of the cantaloupe balanced the spicy dish.
He planted cantaloupe seeds in his garden last spring.