luau

Where does the word "luau" come from? It comes from Hawaiian luau, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Luau’s story begins in Hawaiian: luau meant “a taro-leaf dish; a feast.” Originally the name of a taro-leaf dish, later the whole feast. It reached English by 1800s as luau. Named for the taro leaves cooked in the feast; King Kamehameha II held the first recorded luau in 1819. Today, luau means a traditional Hawaiian feast, often accompanied by music and dance.

1. Stage 1 · Hawaiian · medieval luau "a taro-leaf dish; a feast", originally the name of a taro-leaf dish, later the whole feast.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s luau "a traditional Hawaiian feast", named for the taro leaves cooked in the feast; King Kamehameha II held the first recorded luau in 1819.