citron melon n Also citron
1 also citron muskmelon, green citron (musk)melon: A variety of early-ripening muskmelon n B with pale yellow-green flesh. [Appar from the color of the flesh]
1806 (1905) Clark Orig. Jrls. Lewis & Clark Exped. 4.175 VA, The substance is about the consistancy of the rind of a citron Mellon and ¾ of an inch thick. [Description of the pneumatocyst of a species of kelp.] 1808 in 1917 Stewart Notes Gloucester Co. NJ 1.185, Had corn, cucumbers, squashes and citron muskmelons planted. 1817 Poughkeepsie Jrl. (NY) 9 Apr [3]/4, [Advt:] Garden Seeds. . . Musk Melon[,] Green Citron Melon[,] Cantelope Melon. 1824 NY Eve. Post (NY) [27 Aug 3]/6, [Advt:] Citron Melons. The citizens of this city are respectfully informed, that they can be supplied with these delicious melons, of which the public had a small specimen last season, . . by calling on Isaac Smith, . . at the Fulton Market. 1867 De Voe Market Asst. 380 NYC, From the musk-melon are the nutmegs, citron, cantaloup, pineapple, etc. Of these, the citron is most valued for its sweetness, richness, and high flavor. They appear from the South—usually from Charleston and Savannah—about the 1st of August. 1870 Cultivator & Country Gentleman 35.667/3 NEng, From two hills of green citron muskmelons we have raised fifty as fine melons as any city market could show. What a delicious relish they are for breakfast. 1937 NY Ag. Exper. Sta. Vegetables NY 1.4.66, Green Citron or Citron was, previous to the eighties, perhaps the most popular melon on the market; and for cultivation in the family garden, it had few superiors. . . Flesh very light green often with a pale yellowish cast. 1997 Weaver Heirloom Vegetable Gardening 197, Citron Melon or Green Citron Melon. . . The flesh is yellowish green. . . Of all the heirloom melons, this is not the best for flavor, although it can be quite sweet and aromatic. Its strength lies in its earliness.
2 also citron preserving melon, ~ watermelon: A watermelon n (here: Citrullus caffer) with a small round fruit with pale flesh that is unpalatable raw. [Appar because used to make an imitation of the preserved citron peel of commerce] Cf apple melon n 1, cistern n, cymling n 2, guinea melon n, pie melon n 1
1859 Brook Farm 131 seNY, Amongst a packet of garden seeds sent us, was one of citron melon. This is a melon about the size of your head, round as a ball, and of a richly-mottled green colour. It is not eaten raw, having a nauseous, acrid taste; but it makes excellent preserve. 1867 De Voe Market Asst. 382 NYC, The citron water-melon ripens late, and is quite small and round, with a very thick skin or rind, and generally used for preserves. 1876 Hobbs Bot. Hdbk. 24, Citron melon, variety of watermelon, Citrullus vulgaris. 1895 S. Cultivator 53.240 nGA, The Citron Preserving Melon. . . This melon is as round as a ball, and when at full development, is possibly ten inches in diameter. It is colored with dark green and light pea green stripes. I am satisfied from my experience that they are as good feed for stock as pumpkins. 1919 Hoard’s Dairyman 57.506 CA, [Letter:] This year I shall plant a large acreage of pie melons. There are two varieties, the small citron or preserving melon and the stock melon. 1934 Nashville Banner (TN) 17 Nov 6/1, Someone had brought a real old-time citron melon about as large as a man’s head, and as green and hard as some. 1950 WELS (Kinds of melons) 2 Infs, WI, Citron; 1 Inf, Citron—resembling lemons; 1 Inf, Citron—green rind, white center; 1 Inf, Citron, not edible as fresh, used for pickles and jellies. 1965–70 DARE (Qu. I26, . . Kinds of melons) Infs CA36, CT6, 16, IN34, NJ8, Citron melons; LA40, MA6, 55, SC57, Citrons; (Qu. I4, . . Vegetables . . less commonly grown) Inf MO8, Citron; (Qu. I53, . . Fruits) Infs MN29, MA5, Citron. 1984 Martinsville Bull. (VA) 9 May 1/1, Mrs. Doris Ramsey . . was kind enough to donate some citron melon seeds. The citron, she told us, can be used only for preserves and isn’t good eaten as a melon. The citron is round, striped and looks like a watermelon. 2020 Tallahassee Democrat (FL) 30 Oct sec C 2/2, All I saw was a tough, yellowish white insides, along with plenty of those gray seeds. Taste test: not any better than the rind! This was not the watermelon variety I had wanted, obviously. This citron melon, pickling melon, Citrullus caffer, is closely related to the species which gives us the traditional sweet watermelons.
3 Broadly, any pie melon n 1.
1890 KS Farmer (Topeka) 12 Feb 4/4, The cut on this page represents the Kansas stock melon. . . It belongs to the citrons, and can be only used for preserves or stock food. . . The melons grow to a large size, some of them weighing as high as sixty or seventy pounds. 1934 Cushing Daily Citizen (OK) 28 Dec 6/5, Another resolution we are making is to plant an acreage of citrons—not the long variety of “pie-melon” but the striped round red seeded citron. 1938 U.S. Dept. Ag. Farmers’ Bulletin 1394.12, There are two varieties of citron—the small, round preserving citron or melon that remains solid and does not change color of flesh to any extent and the large green citron which frequently grows to a length of 30 inches and weighs 30 to 60 pounds.