The English word `` squash '' comes from askutasquash ( which literally means `` a green thing eaten raw '' ) . This is a word from the Narragansett language , which was documented by Roger Williams in his 1643 publication A Key Into the Language of America . The English word `` squash '' derives from askutasquash ( a green thing eaten raw ) , a word from the Narragansett language , which was documented by Roger Williams , the founder of Rhode Island , in his 1643 publication A Key Into the Language of America .