koolsla

Forms

koolsla f (uncountable, no diminutive)^[1]

Etymology

It is a compound from Dutch kool¹ + sla, “cabbage” and “salad”.^[1][2][3] The second part is a clipping from Dutch salade, from French salade.^[4]

Semantic evolution

American English took the word as cold slaw, recorded from 1794, a partial translation in which folk etymology replaced the first part with cold; that form was common until the 1860s, when cole “cabbage” was revived in English and coleslaw resulted.^[4][5] From American English it passed into Polish as colesław.^[5]

Timeline

• 1794 – American English cold slaw is first recorded.^[4]
• 1860s – English cold slaw gives way to coleslaw.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. coleslaw, a salad made mainly of cabbage, especially white cabbage.^[3][6][1]

Related words

• English coleslaw

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
3. ^ a b Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
6. ^ Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers