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Sockeye

2 stages from Halkomelem to English.

Today it means a species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) known for its bright red flesh

Where does the word "sockeye" come from? It comes from Halkomelem sθəqəy̓, adopted directly into English (1870s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
sθəqəy̓
Halkomelem · pre-1800s
"red salmon"
named the red-fleshed salmon species; the name means 'red fish'
2
Stage 2 of 2
sockeye
English · 1870s
"a species of Pacific salmon prized for its deep red flesh"
borrowed and folk-etymologized by English-speaking fishers on the Pacific coast
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