noun

1. any of several large, juicy, thick-skinned, many-seeded fruits of certain trailing plants of the gourd family, as the watermelon, muskmelon, and cantaloupe
2. any of these plants
3. ☆ Slang profits, winnings, political spoils, or the like, for distribution among stockholders, etc.: chiefly in cut a melon, to distribute such profits, etc.

Etymology: OFr < LL melo (gen. melonis), for L melopepo < Gr mēlopepōn, melon < mēlon, apple + pepōn, ripe