I have always heard the term "cantaloupe" used to describe muskmelons. I recently bought some cantaloupe and found it to be more like a honeydew in taste.The name "muskmelon" is a combination of the names of two melons: musk, from the melon family, and melon, from the gourd family. So muskmelon is a combination of the names of two different melons.
Muskmelons are native to India. They were introduced into the United States in the late 1800s, and are now found all over the world.
The original wild muskmelon, Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis, has been lost from many areas of the world. Muskmelons are one of the most popular fruits, and are often used in the making of jams and jellies.