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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Hillbilly Dude Says...

Growin' up, 'horse apple' was more common. You hear it less these days.

Pronunciation

[HORS AP-uhl] /ˈhɔːrs ˌæpəl/

Meaning & Usage

- Euphemism for horse droppings (noun)

Mae:

What’s all over the lane?

Earl:

Just horse apples-wagon come through earlier.

- Osage orange fruit (‘hedge apple’) (noun)

Mae:

Kids are kicking those big green balls again.

Earl:

Yep-horse apples off the hedge row.

variations: horse droppings, hedge apple (tree fruit), Osage orange (tree fruit), bodark apple, road apple (related term)

★ If it’s in a barn or on a road: it likely means droppings. If it’s under a thorny hedgerow or along old fence lines: it’s the Osage orange fruit-round, wrinkled, and bright green. Knowing both senses can help you read old Southern/Appalachian stories accurately. ★

Origin

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.

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."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is the fruit edible?

Not for casual eating; it’s fibrous and unpalatable (though wildlife may nibble).

Does "horse apple" ever mean cow droppings?

No-by default it refers to horses; for cattle you’ll hear "cow patty."

What’s the link between "horse apple" and "road apple"?

"Road apple" is a related euphemism for horse droppings found on roads or trails-common nationwide, while "horse apple" is older and also refers to the Osage orange fruit in the South/Midland.

Is "bodark" the same tree?

Yes-regional names like "bois d’arc," "bodark," and "Osage orange" refer to the same species.