See Also: squash(encyclopedia)
squash bug(encyclopedia)
squash(5)(dictionary)
squash(4)(dictionary)
squash(3)(dictionary)
squash(2)(dictionary)
squash(1)(dictionary)
egg squash(medicine)
Honey Squash(recipes)
Sunshine Squash(recipes)

squash(4) (iou)



squash noun2. M17.
[Abbreviation of Narragansett asquutasquash, from asq raw, uncooked + -ash pl. suffix. Cf. QUASH noun, SUCCOTASH.]
The fruit of any of several kinds of gourd, cooked and eaten as a vegetable esp. in N. America; esp. that of Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo, eaten before the seeds and rinds have hardened (more fully summer squash), and that of C. maxima, C. moschata, etc., stored and eaten when mature (more fully winter squash). Also, any of the plants producing such a fruit.
Comb.: squash-berry the edible fruit of several N. American viburnums, esp. that of Viburnum edule, used to make jelly; squash blossom (a) the flower of the squash plant; (b) used attrib. to designate silver necklaces, earrings, etc., made by Navajos and characterized by designs resembling this flower; squash-bug US a N. American hemipteran insect, Anasa tristis, that is a pest of squashes, pumpkins, and melons.