cucumber
/ˈkjuˌkʌmbɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.41 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "[…]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."
- ""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.""
- "Probably on account of its phallic formation, the cucumber is often assumed to have aphrodisiac qualities."
- "To the bowl, add cucumber, cabbage and carrot."
- "The guy's a real cucumber."
Etymology
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. First attested in the late 14c. Displaced native English earthapple (see which for more), which has since acquired other senses.
Origin
- Source language: Middle English
- First known use: First attested in the late 14c.
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkjuˌkʌmbɚ/
- British English: /ˈkjuːˌkʌmbə/