Momordica

noun

Mo·​mor·​di·​ca

məˈmȯ(r)də̇kə

: a genus of tropical Old World herbaceous vines (family Cucurbitaceae) having a campanulate corolla and a warty fruit see balsam apple, bitter melon

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin momordisse, perfect infinitive of mordēre to bite; from the fact that the seeds appear to have been bitten

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