Bacalhau

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of dried and salted cod, commonly used in Portuguese cuisine
2. It is a traditional ingredient in a variety of dishes, celebrated for its unique flavor and texture
3. Often served in meals during festive occasions, particularly at Christmas and Easter

Etymology: Bacalhau is the Portuguese name for salted and dried cod, a fish that Portuguese sailors and merchants traded across the Atlantic for centuries. English borrowed the word from Portuguese, and it sits in a family of near-twins: "bacalao" in Spanish and "baccala" in Italian come from the same source, so the three languages share one fish name that each has carried in its own form. The word's own history is a fair bit older than its English use. Portuguese cod fishing in the North Atlantic was well established long before the word reached English, and the preserved fish it names was prized because it kept for months without refrigeration. That durability is why the name travelled so far, from the Iberian kitchen into English-speaking cookbooks and grocery shops. Its place in festive cooking is the reason it still turns up in English today. In Portugal, dishes made from this preserved cod are traditionally served at Christmas and Easter, which is why the word is most often met in holiday menus rather than everyday talk.

Synonyms: salted cod, salt cod