cowcumber

Noun

cucumber (countable and uncountable, plural cucumbers)

1. A vine in the gourd family, Cucumis sativus.
   • ASPARAGUS, cauliflowers, imperial Sileſia, royal and cabbage lettuces, burnet, purſlain, cucumbers, naſturtian flowers, peaſe and beans ſown in October, artichokes, ſcarlet ſtrawberries, and kidney beans.1767, A Lady [Hannah Glasse], The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Eaſy […] , page 326
2. The edible fruit of this plant, having a green rind and crisp white flesh.
   • […]for it has been a common ſaying of phyſicians in England, that a cucumber ſhould be well ſliced, and dreſſed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing.1785, James Boswell, quoting Samuel Johnson, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnſon […] , London: Henry Baldwin, page 356

   Synonyms:

   cuke, cumber

3. (figuratively, informal) A person who is calm and self-possessed.
   • The guy's a real cucumber.1999, Mark Grantham, The Brewery, page 275