Etymology

Adam's apple

Today it means: The lump in the throat, usually more noticeable in men than in women; the laryngeal prominence. Full definition →

Latin pomum Adami
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The story

  1. Latin · calque ofpomum Adami
  2. English todayAdam's apple

Calque of Latin pomum Adami, which is found in the botanical sense from 1560 and the anatomical sense from 1600. According to the earliest sources, the anatomical usage derives from a common belief that Adam was punished by God for the fall of man by having a piece of the forbidden fruit lodged in his throat (see 1662 citation).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.