mad apple en · NOUN
Etymology
Calque of Renaissance Latin malum insanum, itself calqued from Italian melanzana, reanalyzed as if mela insana, perhaps under the influence of beliefs that it could cause various diseases. See further etymology at melongene.
Meanings
- (archaic) Eggplant.
- Thorn apple.
- Dead Sea apple.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mad apples | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| mad-apple | alternative | lexicographic |