cantaloupe comes from cantalupo in italy.

This is where the English word came from, but why ever did the Italians call it this? It would translate as something like "the wolf sings" or perhaps "wolfsong." Is there some connection between cantaloupes and wolves of which I, until now, have been blissfully ignorant? Or perhaps, re-reading, this means it came from a place called Cantalupo, where perhaps wolves sang, without regard or relation to the presence of melons.

Thinking back to when I lived in Italy, I think they just called a cantaloupe "melone" - often served with some paper-thin prosciutto wrapped around it - mmm, the salty-sweet contrast, the hot Sardinian sun, the blue, blue Mediterranean...