earthapple

== English == === Alternative forms === earth-apple, earth apple === Etymology === From earlier erth-apple (“tuberous root of the sowbread", also "tomato-like fruit of the mandrake”), from Middle English *erth-appel, from Old English eorþæppel (“cucumber”, literally “earth or ground-apple”), from Proto-West Germanic *erþapplu (the name of various types of fruits which grow on or below the ground; gourd, melon, squash), equivalent to earth +‎ apple. The modern sense of "potato" is a calque of Dutch aardappel (“potato”). Compare also German Erdapfel, French pomme de terre. === Noun === earthapple (plural earthapples) A Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). (rare) A potato. (historical) The mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), or its fruit. (obsolete) The name of various tuberous plants, especially sowbread (genus Cyclamen). ==== Synonyms ==== (potato): ground pear (Jerusalem artichoke): ground pear === See also === groundapple