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Why is a tomato called a 'love apple'?
Question
#56514. Asked by francodr. (Apr 07 05 2:12 AM)
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Arpeggionist
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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.
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lanfranco
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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.
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Baloo55th
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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.
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Flynn_17
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Potato and Aubergine are hte only other edible members of the solanum family.
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