love apple

noun

1. a tropical, tender plant, Solanum aculeatissimum, of the nightshade family, having prickly leaves, clusters of large, star-shaped white flowers, and red, tomatolike fruit.

2. Archaic.,  the tomato.

love apple

noun

1. an archaic name for tomato

Word History and Origins

Origin of love apple¹

1570–80; compare French pomme d'amour, German Liebesapfel