groundapple

• ground-apple, ground apple

From ground +‎ apple. Compare earthapple.

groundapple (plural groundapples)

1. An apple that has fallen to the ground.
   • 2017, Gill Alderman, Lilith’s Castle:

     It was a chesol deer, tawny as the Plains grasses when they flowered. A number of other wolves – five, six – followed them; these carried groundapples in their mouths.

   • 2018, Jessica Marting, Haven:

     It's a change of scenery, at least." He picked up a ground apple. "What else do you have in there?"

2. (rare, regional) An edible root or tuber, particularly, a potato or turnip.
   • 1892, Mrs. S. E. Henderson, Jelard, page 252:

     "Why, it is a ground-apple," and taking it from her he cut off a piece and put it in his mouth. In an instant, he cried: "You vixen! you knew that was Indian turnip - the most infernal thing that ever grew in a civilized country."

   • 1900, Edwin Herbert Lewis, A Second Manual of Composition:

     If the child had formerly lived in a country where apples grew, but potatoes did not, the first time he saw a potato he would probably call it a ground-apple.

   • 1961, Lew Larkin, Vanguard of Empire, page 18:

     Seven days later the naked Colter, thin from existing on "groundapple," an edible root, his feet bloody, arrived at the fort 220 miles away.

   • 1983, Clarissa M. Silitch, Little Book of Yankee Humor, page 201:

     "Let's to around back 'til I get them groundapples out of their suits or we'll have to open a can of chowder."

   • 2000, L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Timegods' World, page 69:

     So we listened and hoped for some bread, perhaps a ground apple.

   • 2015, J. D. Vaughn, The Second Guard:

     Drayvon raised an eyebrow, then continued peeling the root in his hand. "A body that accidentally slipped down the ravine would be damaged, scraped on all sides like this ground apple."