'applecart' originates from English as a compound of 'apple' and 'cart'. 'Apple' comes from Old English 'æppel' meaning 'apple', and 'cart' comes from Old Norse 'kartr' (and related Old English forms) meaning 'wheeled vehicle'.

'applecart' appeared in Middle English as compounds like 'appel-carte' or 'appelcart' and eventually became the modern English word 'applecart'.

Initially it meant a literal cart for carrying or selling apples; over time the word became part of the idiom 'upset the applecart', giving it a figurative sense of disturbing a settled arrangement or ruining plans.