mirliton

noun

mir·​li·​ton ˌmir-lə-ˈtōⁿ How to pronounce mirliton (audio)
plural mirlitons
: the pear-shaped fruit of a West Indian annual vine (Sechium edule) of the gourd family that is widely cultivated as a vegetable : chayote
Louisiana fills its birds with oyster dressing and adds side dishes of baked plantains and a local squash called mirliton.Horace Sutton
Recommended are any of the gumbos, the stuffed mirliton, and broiled flounder, as well as the bread pudding and carrot cake.Stanley Dry
also : the plant
Tomatoes and okra and mirlitons (a kind of gourd or squash) are easily grown … Florence Fabricant

Word History

Etymology

Louisiana French

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mirliton was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near mirliton

Cite this Entry

“Mirliton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mirliton. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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