Kabeljau

Meaning

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua

Gender

♂️ Masculine

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkaːbəlˌjaʊ̯/

Etymology

Circa 1600, from Middle Low German kabbelouw (14th c.), from Middle Dutch cabbeliau, cabelliau (12th c.), from Old Dutch cabillau, possibly from Latin baculum (“stick, staff”), referring to the way cod were split and dried on wooden sticks. Or, with metathesis from/influenced by Basque bakailao (“cod”), Portuguese bacalhau (“cod”). The contemporary form was probably reinforced by modern Dutch kabeljauw against variants like Kabbelau, Kabliau.