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

The Arabs received the kermis from Armenia, and the name was originally “Quer-més,” “oak-apple.”

From Project Gutenberg

The well-known oak-apple, and the red hairy-looking body found upon hedge-roses, are both galls produced in the same way.

From Project Gutenberg

Take as an example C. quercus, which produces the spongy excrescence well known as the common Oak-apple.

From Project Gutenberg

The most probable opinion is that intelligence is an excrescence, like an oak-apple.

From Project Gutenberg

Oak-Apple Day, I fear, will never again become a general holiday.

From Project Gutenberg