mukluk

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

Mukluk’s story begins in Yupik: maklak meant “bearded seal.” Meaning "bearded seal", whose skin was used for boots. It reached English by 1800s as mukluk. Yupik 'maklak', bearded seal, whose skin was used for the soles. Today, mukluk means a soft boot traditionally made of sealskin or reindeer hide.

1. Stage 1 · Yupik · ancient maklak "bearded seal", meaning "bearded seal", whose skin was used for boots.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s mukluk "a soft, sealskin or reindeer-hide boot", Yupik 'maklak', bearded seal, whose skin was used for the soles.