melon

[ mel-uh n ]
/ ˈmɛl ən /

noun

the fruit of any of various plants of the gourd family, as the muskmelon or watermelon.
medium crimson or deep pink.
the visible upper portion of the head of a surfacing whale or dolphin, including the beak, eyes, and blowhole.
Informal.
  1. a large extra dividend, often in the form of stock, to be distributed to stockholders: Profits zoomed so in the last quarter that the corporation cut a nice melon.
  2. any windfall of money to be divided among specified participants.

Origin of melon

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin mēlōn- (stem of mēlō), short for mēlopepō < Greek mēlopépōn apple-shaped melon, equivalent to mêlo(n) apple + pépōn pepo

Example sentences from the Web for melon

British Dictionary definitions for melon

melon
/ (ˈmɛlən) /

noun

any of several varieties of two cucurbitaceous vines, cultivated for their edible fruit See muskmelon, watermelon
the fruit of any of these plants, which has a hard rind and juicy flesh
cut a melon US and Canadian slang to declare an abnormally high dividend to shareholders

Word Origin for melon

C14: via Old French from Late Latin mēlo, shortened form of mēlopepō, from Greek mēlopepōn, from mēlon apple + pepōn gourd