Apple

(57), n. [A.-S. æppel, æpl, Fries. & D. appel, O. H. Ger. aphul, aphol, Ger. apfel, Icel. epli, Sw. äple, Dan. äble, Fr. ubhal, abhal, Gael. ubhall, W. afal, Arm. aval, O Slav. yabl”ko, Russ. yabloko, Pol. jablko, Bohem. gablko, gablo.]

1Sense 1. A well-known fruit-tree of the genus Pyrus; the apple-tree, Pyrus malus of Linnæus.

☞ The European crab-apple is supposed to be the original kind, from which all others have sprung.

2Sense 2. The fruit of the apple-tree.

Apple of the eye, the pupil.—Apple of discord, a subject of contention and envy, so called from the golden apple on which was written "For the fairest," and which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by Eris, the goddess of discord. It was contended for by Juno, Minerva, and Venus, and was adjudged to the latter.—Apple of love, or love-apple, the tomato, or Solanum lycopersicum.—Apples of Sodom, a fruit described by ancient writers as externally of fair appearance, but dissolving into smoke and ashes when plucked; probably the fruit of the Asclepias gigantea, or procera, which resembles an orange in size and color, but explodes like a bladder on being touched, however carefully, leaving in the hand only a rind and a few filaments by which the interior is traversed.