Fruit of one's historical researches? (4)

I believe the answer is:

date

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'fruit' is the definition.
(date is a kind of fruit)

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

(Other definitions for date that I've seen before include "Romantic assignation" , "Court" , "Go out with" , "Time - fruit - girlfriend" , "Appointment - fruit of palm" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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