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I suppose this "earth apple" formulation coming up in several languages is partly because potatoes are from the New World, and Old World languages won't have a

I suppose this "earth apple" formulation coming up in several languages is partly because potatoes are from the New World, and Old World languages won't have a "traditional" word for them. Whereas in English it's basically a loanword.

technothrasher 9mo ago
It also makes more sense when you realize that 1) pomme in older French meant fruit generally, not apples specifically, and 2) sweet potatoes were introduced to Europe well before white potatoes were. So "earth fruit" seems fitting.
- wiether 9mo ago
  Do you have more detail about your second point? Since they both come from America, sources I can find place them in Europe during the XVIth century.
- roysting 9mo ago
  Technically apple is also just the general term for fruit from its root in Proto-Indo European, ab(e)l.