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Kombu

3 stages from Ainu to English.

Today it means an edible kelp, dried and used to make the savory Japanese stock called dashi

Where does the word "kombu" come from? It comes from Ainu kompu, passing through Japanese before entering English (late 1900s).

kompu→konbu→kombu

Ainu · ancient

the indigenous Ainu name for the edible kelp harvested off Hokkaido

Japanese · medieval

"dried kelp used for stock"

adopted from Ainu trade and became a staple of Japanese broth-making

English · late 1900s

"dried edible kelp used to make Japanese broth"

borrowed by cooks as Japanese cuisine and dashi stock spread internationally

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