abalone

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

Abalone’s story begins in Rumsen (Ohlone): aulun meant “red abalone.” Named the red abalone shellfish common in Monterey Bay. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as abulón. Spanish missionaries recorded it from the Rumsen people around Monterey Bay. It reached English by 1850s as abalone. Anglicized during the California Gold Rush era as the shellfish trade grew. Today, abalone means a large edible sea snail prized for its meat and iridescent mother-of-pearl shell.

1. Stage 1 · Rumsen (Ohlone) · pre-1700s aulun "red abalone", named the red abalone shellfish common in Monterey Bay.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1700s abulón "a large edible sea snail with an iridescent shell", Spanish missionaries recorded it from the Rumsen people around Monterey Bay.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1850s abalone "a large edible marine mollusk with an iridescent shell", anglicized during the California Gold Rush era as the shellfish trade grew.