Northern Spy
1
6.5
- noun
- /ˈnɔrðərn spaɪ/
:
Northern Spy
- The Northern Spy apple is perfect for pies.
- Northern Spy apples
Examples
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The orchard specializes in Northern Spy apples, which are perfect for baking pies.
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I bit into a crisp Northern Spy and enjoyed its tart, juicy flavor.
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This season, the market has a good selection of Northern Spy apples for sale.
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I bought some Northern Spies from the farmer's market.
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The Northern Spy is known for its crisp flesh and tart flavor, making it a great choice for apple pies.
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When harvested in late fall, the Northern Spy apple has a beautiful yellow and red striped skin.
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Many chefs prefer the Northern Spy apple for its unique taste and texture in dessert recipes.
How Tart
Surface Forms
Morphology
northern + Spy
Northern Spy is a lexicalized cultivar name (a proper noun) whose meaning 'a variety of apple' cannot be derived from the constituents 'northern' (relating to the north) and 'spy' (a secret agent); a B1 learner would likely interpret it literally (a spy from the north) or not recognise it as an apple variety. Proper-name fruit varieties are conventionalized and language-specific, so the referent is not compositionally predictable from the parts.
Etymology
Northern Spy may get its name from being first grown in the 'north' and from an old use of the word 'spy' for something that 'stands out'. So the name helps you remember a large, late-ripening apple with bright yellow-and-red stripes, crisp flesh, and a tart taste.