cocomero

Italian

Wikispecies ^it

Cocomeri – Watermelons

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

cocomero m (plural cocomeri, diminutive cocomerìno or cocomerétto, augmentative cocomeróne, pejorative cocomeràccio)

watermelon, specifically:
the plant Citrullus lanatus
(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.
(figurative) a foolish or unreliable man
(regional, northern Italian) 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.