beluga

Where does the word "beluga" come from? It comes from Russian beluga, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).

Beluga’s story begins in Russian: beluga meant “great white sturgeon.” From belyi 'white'; the name of the Caspian's giant sturgeon, which can exceed a tonne (the white whale is belukha). It reached English by 1590s as beluga. Applied first to the sturgeon and later to the white whale; the US banned imports of beluga caviar in 2005 as the fish neared extinction. Today, beluga means a large sturgeon prized for its caviar; a small white Arctic whale.

1. Stage 1 · Russian · medieval beluga "great white sturgeon", from belyi 'white'; the name of the Caspian's giant sturgeon, which can exceed a tonne (the white whale is belukha).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1590s beluga "sturgeon; white whale", applied first to the sturgeon and later to the white whale; the US banned imports of beluga caviar in 2005 as the fish neared extinction.