lutefisk

Where does the word "lutefisk" come from? It comes from Swedish/Norwegian lutfisk, and was adopted directly into English (1859).

Lutefisk’s story begins in Swedish/Norwegian: lutfisk meant “lye-soaked fish.” Literally lye fish, describing whitefish preserved by soaking in lye. It reached English by 1859 as lutefisk. Cod soaked in lye; Norwegian-American churches in Minnesota hold lutefisk dinners. Today, lutefisk means a traditional Scandinavian dish of whitefish preserved and rehydrated using lye.

1. Stage 1 · Swedish/Norwegian · medieval lutfisk "lye-soaked fish", literally lye fish, describing whitefish preserved by soaking in lye.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1859 lutefisk "whitefish preserved by soaking in lye", cod soaked in lye; Norwegian-American churches in Minnesota hold lutefisk dinners.