The Word of the Day comes from SACRED HUNGER by Barry Unsworth.
CALABASH
NOUN
calabashes (plural noun) · calabash tree (noun) · calabash trees (plural noun)
an evergreen tropical American tree which bears fruit in the form of large woody gourds.
a gourd from the calabash tree.a water container, tobacco pipe, or other object made from the dried shell of a calabash or a similar gourd.
synonyms: tobacco pipe · briar (pipe) · meerschaum · clay pipe · churchwarden · cutty · dudeen · calumet · chibouk · hookah · narghile · calean · hubble-bubble · bong · chillum
ORIGIN mid 17th century: from Frenchcalebasse, from Spanishcalabaza, perhaps from Persianḵarbuz‘melon’.