1887, in the meaning defined above
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One ‘Bad Apple’ Can Spoil a...
The history of a rogue phrase
The Words of the Week - 6/12/20
Some of the words that defined the week ending June 12, 2020
rotten
rotten apple
rotten borough
“Rotten apple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotten%20apple. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
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