apple = fruit
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æppel (Old English) any kind of fruit
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ap(a)laz (Proto-Germanic)
The Old English word æppel meant any kind of fruit or fruit in general. It included nuts but excluded berries. It's originally from a Proto-Germanic root ap(a)laz, and the modern German is apfel. The early English word for dates was fingeræppla 'finger-fruit', bananas were appel of paradis 'fruits of paradise', cucumbers were eorþæppla 'earth fruits'.
Similarly, the French word pomme means apple and also carries the more general meaning of 'fruit'. It comes from the Latin pomum that also means both 'apple' and 'fruit'. The French word for potato is pomme de terre 'apple of the earth' or 'fruit of the earth'. Pomona is the Roman goddess of fruit. Pomegranate comes from an early French word pome grenate from Latin pomum granatum 'apple of many seeds' or 'many grains'. The French currently use the word grenade where we get grenadine, made from pomegranate juice, and grenade for its seedy shrapnel.
The other Latin word for apple and fruit is malum. The comes from the Greek melon which also has both meanings. The Greek word for types of gourds with sweet fruit is melopepon or 'gourd-fruit' and where we get our word melon. So all three roots - pomum, melon and aeppel - all essentially meant generic fruit as much as they do apple.
Pineapple was the original term for a pine cone, referring to the 'fruit' of a pine tree. Later it was used to refer to the tropical fruit. The French word ananas and other related European words comes via Portuguese ananás from a Peruvian (Tupian or Guaraní language) word nanas.
Camomile originally means 'earth apple' referring to it's apple scent. It comes via the French camemile and Latin chamomilla from Greek chamaimelon 'earth apple'. The Greek word chamai means 'on the ground' + melon 'apple'. Chamai is also where we get chameleon or 'ground lion'.
Marmalade comes via French marmelade from Portuguese marmelada for 'quince jelly'. Marmelo 'quince' is from Latin melimelum or 'sweet apple' and originally from Greek melimelon, or meli 'honey' + melon 'apple'.
The other Latin word for apple and fruit is malum. The comes from the Greek melon which also has both meanings. The Greek word for types of gourds with sweet fruit is melopepon or 'gourd-fruit' and where we get our word melon. So all three roots - pomum, melon and aeppel - all essentially meant generic fruit as much as they do apple.
Pineapple was the original term for a pine cone, referring to the 'fruit' of a pine tree. Later it was used to refer to the tropical fruit. The French word ananas and other related European words comes via Portuguese ananás from a Peruvian (Tupian or Guaraní language) word nanas.
Camomile originally means 'earth apple' referring to it's apple scent. It comes via the French camemile and Latin chamomilla from Greek chamaimelon 'earth apple'. The Greek word chamai means 'on the ground' + melon 'apple'. Chamai is also where we get chameleon or 'ground lion'.
Marmalade comes via French marmelade from Portuguese marmelada for 'quince jelly'. Marmelo 'quince' is from Latin melimelum or 'sweet apple' and originally from Greek melimelon, or meli 'honey' + melon 'apple'.
Related Words
- see all of the above
- malic acid - named after the acid first isolated from apple juice but also present in other fruit
- malic acid - named after the acid first isolated from apple juice but also present in other fruit
- pommel horse
Translated
- pomme French
- mela Italian
- manzana Spanish
- apfel German