Why is a tomato called a 'love apple'?

Arpeggionist

My guess is Greco-Roman legend. Interestingly enough, in many languages the word for tomato really translates as "apple of love". In Arabic, this word is "badurah". When trying to create a Hebrew word for this fruit, Eliezer ben Yehuda preffered transliterating the Arabic over what eventually did become the Hebrew word "'agvaniah". Ben Yehuda's objection is quite clear, as the latter word comes from the same root as "'agevet", Hebrew for syphilis. Apr 07 05, 2:34 AM

lanfranco

Since tomatoes are native to the New World, the Greeks and Romans never saw them. I think the French first used the term, in the 16th century, but it's possible they were referring back to myth in doing so. Apr 07 05, 2:59 PM

Baloo55th

At one time they were apparently thought to be poisonous as most of the solanum family are, so they could be used by suicidal lovers. So the story goes. Not hard to prove that it didn't work, though, so this is probably one of those urban legend type things. Apr 07 05, 3:13 PM

Flynn_17

Potato and Aubergine are hte only other edible members of the solanum family. Apr 07 05, 3:16 PM

Legolaschic

I have here that it was so named because of it's relation to the Mandrake "love plant": http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/org_vegetable_garden/106601 Apr 07 05, 3:17 PM