A type of apple that stores well and was traditionally dried; also used as a name for someone dealing in apples, similar to other trade-based surnames.
From 'apple' plus the personal name 'John,' following a pattern of English trade names (like 'Tom,' 'Jack'). The specific apple variety name became standardized in English horticulture by the 16th century.
Shakespeare mentions 'applejohns' in his plays—these wrinkled, stored apples were so common they became cultural shorthand for something old and shriveled, showing how fruit varieties entered popular language!
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