courge

Traductions

• anglais

  Auteur : Office québécois de la langue française, 1990

  Définition

  Any of various fruits of plants of the genus Cucurbita that are widely cultivated as a vegetable and for livestock feed.

  Notes :

  The vegetable garden and field crops called squashes (this an adaptation of an American Indian name) belong in Cucurbita, of the gourd family CUCURBITACEAE. Their kinds are referable to four species, but not all of the varieties of any of these are squashes, some are pumpkins and some are gourds grown for ornament. Because no clear botanical distinction exists between squashes and pumpkins, common usage determines the application of these names. In general pumpkins are sorts with large, usually more or less spherical fruits, orange when ripe, that when fully mature are used for making pies and jack-o'-lanterns and as stock feed. The seeds of some varieties are eaten. Squashes have fruits of various shapes and colors that are chiefly employed as human food. The flowers are also cooked and eaten. They are classed as summer (and early autumn) squashes and winter squashes. The fruits of the first, practically all varieties of C. pepo, are eaten well before they attain full maturity and before their skins harden. The fruits of winter squashes, varieties of C. pepo, C. mixta, C. maxima, and C. moschata, are allowed to mature on the vine and then are often stored for long periods before eating.
  
  Squashes, or edible gourds, and melons are members of the cucumber family.
  
  The word squash derives from the Algonquin word askutasquash, which means "eaten raw" and probably referred to a kind of a summer squash encountered by early settlers.
  
  According to the broadest view cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squashes, and watermelons are gourds, but in North America these are not usually thought of as such and the term is pretty much restricted to hard-shelled kinds mostly not considered palatable and grown principally as decoratives and for use in craft work. The chief kinds belongs in the genera Cucurbita, Lagermaria, and Luffa.

  Termes :

  1. squash
  2. gourd
  3. edible gourd

  Gourds is the name of fruits, and plants that bear them, of certain members of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae.

• latin

  Auteur : Office québécois de la langue française, 1990

  Terme :

  1. Cucurbita spp.