Adam's apple

Ad·am's ap·ple

noun \ˌad-əm-ˈzap-əl\

Definition of ADAM'S APPLE

: the projection in the front of the neck that is formed by the thyroid cartilage and is particularly prominent in males

Biographical Note for ADAM'S APPLE

Adam, biblical character. According to the Bible, Adam was the first man, the husband of Eve, and later the father of Cain and Abel. Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden until they ate a forbidden fruit, traditionally held to be an apple. As a punishment they were expelled from Eden. Adam lived a total of 930 years. The term Adam's apple arose through a misinterpretation of the Hebrew for “protuberance on man” used to denote this anatomical part. The late Hebrew word for protuberance is very similar to the word for apple, and Adam in Hebrew can refer to “man” in general as well as the biblical figure. Thus the expression was misinterpreted, perhaps owing to the association of Adam with apples.