ulu

Where does the word "ulu" come from? It comes from Inuktitut ulu, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Ulu’s story begins in Inuktitut: ulu meant “a woman's knife.” Named the crescent-shaped all-purpose knife traditionally used by women. It reached English by 1900s as ulu. Inuit women's knife used for skinning and cutting. Today, ulu means a traditional crescent-shaped, all-purpose knife historically used by Inuit and other Arctic peoples.

1. Stage 1 · Inuktitut · pre-1800s ulu "a woman's knife", named the crescent-shaped all-purpose knife traditionally used by women.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s ulu "a traditional crescent-bladed Arctic knife", Inuit women's knife used for skinning and cutting.