Fruit offered to first mate (5)

I believe the answer is:

apple

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'fruit' is the definition.
(I know that apple is a type of fruit of Maloideae)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for apple that I've seen before include "pie?" , "something to eat" , "Fruit with pips" , "award from Paris" , "Fruit from Eden?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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