coho

Where does the word "coho" come from? It comes from Halkomelem k'ʷəxʷəθ, and was adopted directly into English (1860s-1870s).

Coho’s story begins in Halkomelem: k'ʷəxʷəθ meant “a species of Pacific salmon.” Named the mid-sized Pacific salmon species. It reached English by 1860s-1870s as coho. Borrowed into English by fishers and settlers on the Pacific coast. Today, coho means a species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), also called silver salmon.

1. Stage 1 · Halkomelem · pre-1800s k'ʷəxʷəθ "a species of Pacific salmon", named the mid-sized Pacific salmon species.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1860s-1870s coho "a species of Pacific salmon known for its silvery flanks", borrowed into English by fishers and settlers on the Pacific coast.