kiwi

Where does the word "kiwi" come from? It comes from Maori kiwi, and was adopted directly into English (1800s-1900s).

Kiwi’s story begins in Maori: kiwi meant “the kiwi bird.” An imitative name for the flightless bird's call. It reached English by 1800s-1900s as kiwi. Adopted for the bird, later for the fruit and as a nickname for New Zealanders. Today, kiwi means a small flightless bird native to New Zealand, or informally, a New Zealander.

1. Stage 1 · Maori · ancient kiwi "the kiwi bird", an imitative name for the flightless bird's call.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s-1900s kiwi "a flightless New Zealand bird", adopted for the bird, later for the fruit and as a nickname for New Zealanders.