Where does “apple” come from?

apple (Middle English) comes from Middle English appel, from Old English æppel, from Proto-West Germanic applu, from Proto-Germanic aplaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ébōl — apple.

apple (Middle English): Alternative form of appel

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of appel

Ancestry of “apple”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishappelfruit, nut; apple; ball; spheroid
2Old Englishæppelfruit; apple; ball, sphere
3Proto-West Germanicappluapple, fruit
4Proto-Germanicaplazapple, fruit
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ébōlapple
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ébōl →Every word from Proto-Germanic aplaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic applu →