Horse Apple
In Southern/Appalachian and Midland speech, "horse apple" has two common meanings: (1) a euphemism for horse droppings, and (2) the big, bumpy green fruit of the Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera), also called a hedge apple or bodark apple.
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Growin' up, 'horse apple' was more common. You hear it less these days. Growin' up, 'horse apple' was more common. You hear it less these days. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- Euphemism for horse droppings (noun)
What’s all over the lane?Just horse apples-wagon come through earlier.- Osage orange fruit (‘hedge apple’) (noun)
Kids are kicking those big green balls again.Yep-horse apples off the hedge row.Origin and Etymology
Both senses are well attested in U.S. regional English with strong South/South Midland presence. The tree sense spread with 19th-century "living fence" plantings of Osage orange. The manure euphemism follows a farm-speech pattern of using food words for droppings (patty, cake, apple). "Road apple" developed later as a nationwide euphemism for horse droppings found along roads and trails.
Usage Notes
In the South and Midwest, "horse apple" can mean either horse droppings or Osage orange fruit depending on context. "Road apple" is a related term mainly used outside the South or by equestrians to mean horse droppings on roads/trails. Including both terms increases clarity and helps readers searching under either name.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "horse" may flatten to "hoss"; "apple" often clips to "ap-ul."