Back to all words

Abalone

3 stages from Rumsen (Ohlone) to English.

Today it means a large edible sea snail prized for its meat and iridescent mother-of-pearl shell

Where does the word "abalone" come from? It comes from Rumsen (Ohlone) aulun, passing through Spanish before entering English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
aulun
Rumsen (Ohlone) · pre-1700s
"red abalone"
named the red abalone shellfish common in Monterey Bay
2
Stage 2 of 3
abulón
Spanish · 1700s
"a large edible sea snail with an iridescent shell"
adopted by Spanish colonists in California for the same shellfish
3
Stage 3 of 3
abalone
English · 1850s
"a large edible marine mollusk with an iridescent shell"
anglicized during the California Gold Rush era as the shellfish trade grew
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom