E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Mel’on.
The Mahometans say that the eating of a melon produces a thousand good works. So named from Melos.
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Etre un melon. To be stupid or dull of comprehension. The melon-pumpkin or squash is soft and without heart, hence “être un melon” is to be as soft as a squash. So also “avoir un cœur de melon (or de citrouille)” means to have no heart at all. Tertullian says of Marcion, the heresiarch, “he has a pumpkin [pep’onem] in the place of a heart [cordis loco].” It will be remembered that Thersi’ts, the railer, calls the Greeks “pumpkins” (pep’ons).
s, the railer, calls the Greeks “pumpkins” (pep’on
