earthapple

See also: earth-apple and earth apple

English

Alternative forms

• earth-apple, earth apple

Etymology

From earth +‎ apple, a calque of German Erdapfel or Dutch aardappel; compare also French pomme de terre, Old English eorþæppel (“cucumber”, literally “earth/ground-apple”).

Noun

earthapple (plural earthapples)

1. (rare) A potato
   • 1984, Thomas Jefferson, Merrill D. Peterson, Jefferson: Writings:

     The most probable account I have been able to collect is, that a vessel of Sir Walter Raleigh's, returning from Guiana, put into the west of Ireland in distress, having on board some potatoes which they called earth-apples.

   • 2009, Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell, Edge Chronicles: Stormchaser:

     It was supper-time on board the Stormchaser, and the sky pirates were all seated round a longbench tucking into a meal of baked snowbird and earthapple mash.

   • 2009, Linda F. Selzer, Charles Johnson in Context:

     He finished carefully arranging a plate of fresh prawns, earthapples, and kale he'd bought special for Captain Falcon in Bangalang.

   • 2014, Nancy Springer, Madbond:

     There were roots of some sort, also, baking like earthapples near the fire, and a basket of late berries, most of them bitter. I ate them anyway.

   • 2015, H.B. Dill, Supernal Andantes: A Book of Poetry:

     When the crickets begin to wail and the midnight Festers with wrinkles, and the dwayberries And earthapples in my wounds cluster and garrote The dewscented boughs of my surreal gaze, Then my dear, bless these tears and rise to me [...]

2. The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Synonyms

• (potato): ground pear
• (Jerusalem artichoke): ground pear