calabash

noun6

1. •
   A tree (known as the calabash tree; Crescentia cujete) native to Central and South America, the West Indies, and southern Florida, bearing large, round fruit used to make containers; the fruit of this tree.

   • There was a teacher who taught children to read under a calabash tree, and this teacher's name was Goso. — 1870
2. •
   The bottle gourd (calabash vine, Lagenaria siceraria), believed to have originated in Africa, which is grown for its fruit that are used as a vegetable and to make containers; the fruit of this plant.
3. •
   A container made from the mature, dried shell of the fruit of one of the above plants; also, a similarly shaped container made from some other material.

   • Saje put the calabash in the king's hands. There was a hush from the crowd. The calabash was large and painted with beautiful designs. Few people had seen it up close. — 1997
4. •
   A calabash and its contents; as much as fills such a container.

   • Amuta and the twelve-year-old have produced calabashes of palm wine and are busy pouring out healthy drams into the cupped hands of black and white alike. — 1981
5. •
   A musical instrument, most commonly a drum or rattle, made from a calabash fruit.
6. •
   (slang, no longer used) The head.

   • ‘What d’ye say about rewardin’ this yer young gent, as walloped his chum on the callybash to help us?’ Ben called after them. — 1930