noun / verb

rind

RYND/raɪnd/

The tough outer covering of food, or removing this covering.

The watermelon rind has green skin and a thick pale inner layer.

A cut watermelon wedge beside a curved strip of its thick rind, with the strip's green outer skin and substantial pale inner layer clearly exposed.

Etymology

rindOld Englishbark, crust, outer covering

Old English rinde meant both tree bark and a firm outer covering. That broader covering sense connects bark with the tough outside of fruit, cheese, or bacon.

In context

Audiopedia0:00

Christmas melon or piel de sapo, is a variety of melon that grows to about a foot in length and is oval in shape. It has a thick, green-striped outer rind

Santa Claus melon

More examples

The cheese had a firm rind.
He carefully rinded the fruit.
Discard the tough rind before serving.

Forms

rind · rinds · rinded · rinding

Similar words

peel: Peel is a removable outer skin; rind often suggests a thicker or tougher covering.
shell: A shell is a hard enclosing structure; a rind is the outer layer of food such as fruit or cheese.