apple

Where does the word "apple" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic aplaz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Apple’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: aplaz meant “apple.” One of the few fruit names shared by Germanic, Celtic and Slavic languages. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as æppel. Meant any fruit; a date was a 'fingeræppel', finger-apple. It reached English by 1500s as apple. 'apple of my eye' first meant the pupil of the eye. Today, apple means the round fruit of the apple tree.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient aplaz "apple", one of the few fruit names shared by Germanic, Celtic and Slavic languages.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s æppel "apple, fruit", meant any fruit; a date was a 'fingeræppel', finger-apple.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s apple "apple", 'apple of my eye' first meant the pupil of the eye.