diff --git a/base/boot.jl b/base/boot.jl
index d409957535667..2d293d2d9ab3c 100644
--- a/base/boot.jl
+++ b/base/boot.jl
@@ -208,8 +208,6 @@ macro _noinline_meta()
     Expr(:meta, :noinline)
 end
 
-function postfixapostrophize end
-
 struct BoundsError <: Exception
     a::Any
     i::Any
diff --git a/base/operators.jl b/base/operators.jl
index 99a7bea638a19..454f666c07a37 100644
--- a/base/operators.jl
+++ b/base/operators.jl
@@ -739,9 +739,6 @@ fldmod1(x::T, y::T) where {T<:Real} = (fld1(x,y), mod1(x,y))
 # efficient version for integers
 fldmod1(x::T, y::T) where {T<:Integer} = (fld1(x,y), mod1(x,y))
 
-# postfix apostophre
-Core.postfixapostrophize(x) = Adjoint(x)
-
 """
     adjoint(A)
 
diff --git a/src/julia-syntax.scm b/src/julia-syntax.scm
index f7c1d051f5422..afa6e33f5ec8c 100644
--- a/src/julia-syntax.scm
+++ b/src/julia-syntax.scm
@@ -2378,7 +2378,7 @@
                      ,.(apply append rows)))
             `(call (top typed_vcat) ,t ,@a)))))
 
-   '|'|  (lambda (e) (expand-forms `(call (core postfixapostrophize) ,(cadr e))))
+   '|'|  (lambda (e) (expand-forms `(call (top Adjoint) ,(cadr e))))
    '|.'| (lambda (e) (begin (deprecation-message (string "The syntax `.'` for transposition is deprecated, "
                                              "and the special lowering of `.'` in multiplication "
                                              "(`*`), left-division (`\\`), and right-division (`/`) "