# "Pumpkin" as a term of endearment **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043 "2004-05-25T19:36:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/41 "2004-05-27T02:48:52Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > “In general use in the the UK” does not mean “In use throughout the UK”. Otherwise no local phrase could be described as in general use. Which _would_ be silly. A phrase can be in general use in one or two regions only or generally used throughout Britain (give or take a few specific regions ie some regional difference). I have never said that the term is never used at all or that there aren’t regions that may use it. Are you particularly bored today and/or desparately want to get the last word? Do you even know people in South Yorkshire who use the term ‘pumpkin’ as a term of endearment? Do you really believe that the term ‘pumpkin’ as a term of endearment is often used in most parts of Britain? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/42 "2004-05-27T02:56:04Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > Are you particularly bored today No more than usual > [@](#): > > Do you even know people in South Yorkshire who use the term ‘pumpkin’ as a term of endearment? Yes > [@](#): > > Do you really believe that the term ‘pumpkin’ as a term of endearment is often used in most parts of Britain? No, and I never said otherwise. :o ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/43 "2004-05-27T03:05:52Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > No more than usual > Yes > > No, and I never said otherwise. > > :o So you just want the last word then? Why the embarassed smiley? ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/44 "2004-05-27T03:15:48Z")
Bumpkin didn’t come from pumpkin. (Probably that is; these word origin things are always subject to some speculation.) It (probably) came from “boomkin”, Dutch for little tree, and was used by the English to call the Dutch short. Note, that the English had many insults for the Dutch. In fact “yankees” probably comes from “Jan Cheese”, which for some reason was an insult to Dutch people living in the colonies. Somehow it got transferred to the other (future American) colonists as well. If “pumpkin” meant foolish at some point, I suppose it was conflated with “bumpkin”, which had evolved into a synonym with yokel and hayseed. I have always thought of pumpkin and punkin as two separate words. If they’ve been conflated, then I blame a bunch of bumpkins for it. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/45 "2004-05-27T09:53:45Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > Pumpkin pie IS very good. I imagine that **calm kiwi** has heard of people in the US making candied yams, which often ARE festooned with marshmallows, and are likely to induce instant diabetes. Pumpkin pie is properly served with whipped cream or ice cream. I used to love to eat a slice for breakfast, back in the days when I ate sugar. You may be right Lyn. To me pumpkins is a always savoury thing though…mmmmmmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/46 "2004-05-27T11:14:45Z")
> [@](#): > > “In general use in the the UK” does not mean “In use throughout the UK”. Otherwise no local phrase could be described as in general use. Which would be silly. Is it even in general use in south Yorkshire though? Having one or two people say it doesn’t mean it’s in general use. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/47 "2004-05-27T11:57:59Z")
I’m confused about these other pumpkins. The _only_ things I’ve seen reffered to as pumpkins in NZ or Australia are the big orange things. Sure there are several different types but they all have a similar look, taste etc. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/48 "2004-05-27T20:24:59Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > I’m confused about these other pumpkins. The _only_ things I’ve seen reffered to as pumpkins in NZ or Australia are the big orange things. Sure there are several different types but they all have a similar look, taste etc. The ‘standard’ thing we call a pumpkin in NZ is round and has very dark green skin or creamy light green skin. We also have butternut pumpkins which are the gourd shaped ones. The big orange (Jack o lantern) ones I have rarely ever seen in NZ (that’s the Waikato or Auckland regions). ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043/49 "2004-05-28T02:39:25Z")
Yes, you’re right. I was very tired yesterday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumpkin-as-a-term-of-endearment/247043.md?page=2)