a prostrate vine, Cucurbita foetidissima, of the gourd family, native to southwestern North America, having yellow flowers, round, inedible green and yellow fruit, and an unpleasant odor
Also called: mock orange, Missouri gourd, wild pumpkin
Word origin
[1880–85, Amer.; ‹ MexSp calabacilla ‹ Sp: squirting cucumber, dim. of calabaza; see calabash]