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Today it means

coleslaw

a salad made of finely shredded raw cabbage, typically with a dressing

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Where does the word "coleslaw" come from? It comes from Dutch koolsla, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

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Where does the word "coleslaw" come from? It comes from Dutch koolsla, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

Coleslaw’s story begins in Dutch: koolsla meant “cabbage salad.” Combining "kool" (cabbage) and "sla" (salad). It reached English by 1700s as coleslaw. Dutch 'kool', cabbage, plus 'sla', salad; English speakers heard 'cold slaw'. Today, coleslaw means a salad made of finely shredded raw cabbage, typically with a dressing.

  1. Stage 1 · Dutch · medieval koolsla "cabbage salad", combining "kool" (cabbage) and "sla" (salad).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s coleslaw "a salad of shredded raw cabbage", Dutch 'kool', cabbage, plus 'sla', salad; English speakers heard 'cold slaw'.

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