oak apple

noun

1. oak gall.

oak apple

noun

1. any of various brownish round galls on oak trees, containing the larva of certain wasps

Word History and Origins

Origin of oak apple¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Eiseman was familiar with galls long before writing his first book, particularly the common ones referred to as “oak apples,” for their large size and roughly spherical shape.

From Seattle Times

Instead, Frith sent them strange singers, beautiful and sick like oak apples, like robins’ pincushions on the wild rose.

From Literature

With silvery oak apples, and fir cones brown—

From Project Gutenberg

Green boughs and oak apples were worn, and even flaunted, about the streets, by groups of persons on May 29th, the anniversary of Charles the Second's restoration.

From Project Gutenberg

“They flogged three soldiers to death the other day for wearing oak apples in their caps.”

From Project Gutenberg