cocomero

Italian

Cocomeri – Watermelons

With ending changed to -o due to analogy, from Latin cucumerem, accusative form of cucumis (“cucumber”).

cocomero m (plural cocomeri)

watermelon, specifically:
1. (botany) The plant Citrullus lanatus.
2. (by extension) The fruit of the plant.
  - 1972, Carlo A. Corsi, transl., “La barba bianca [The white beard]”, in Compagno di sbronze [Hangover buddy]‎, Milan: Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore, translation of Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness by Charles Bukowski, published 2005, page 99:
    E Herb apriva un buco nel cocomero e si fotteva il cocomero e poi obbligava Talbot, Talbot il tappo, a mangiarselo.
    And Herb opened a hole in the watermelon and fucked the watermelon and then made Talbot, Talbot the shorty, eat it.
3. (figuratively) A foolish or unreliable man.
(regional, northern Italy) cucumber
- 1495, Pietro de' Crescenzi, “VIII. Delle dilettazioni degli orti, e dell'erbe [8. Of the delights of vegetable gardens and herbs]”, in Trattato di agricoltura - Volume due [Treatise about agriculture - Volume two]‎, Naples: Printed by Felice Mosca, published 1724, Libro ottavo, page 104:
  E ancora creſceranno i cocomeri, o vero cedriuoli, maraviglioſamente, ſe porrai ſotto 'l cocomero, o sotto il cedriuolo, o ſotto la zucca un vaſello d'acqua ſcoperto, due palmi più baſſo.
  Cucumbers will also grow marvelously if you put, two palms below the cucumber, an open jar of water.

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