coleslaw
UK[ˈkəʊlslɔː]US[ˈkoʊlslɔː]
n
a salad made from finely sliced raw cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables, mixed with mayonnaise or a similar dressing.
Etymology
the word 'coleslaw' entered english in the late 18th century from dutch 'koolsla', a compound of 'kool' (cabbage) and 'sla' (salad), a shortened form of 'salade'. the dutch term itself is a calque, or loan translation, from the earlier new latin phrase 'coles alēnum' (cabbage salad). the english spelling was anglicized from the dutch, with 'cole' reflecting the old english 'cāwel' (cabbage), which shares a common proto-germanic ancestor with the dutch 'kool'. the word's journey exemplifies how culinary terms are often borrowed and adapted across languages, preserving the core concept of a cabbage-based salad.
Analysis
the word is a loanword from dutch. it is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in modern english.
Examples
i made a big bowl of creamy coleslaw for the picnic.
the pulled pork sandwich is traditionally served with coleslaw.
she prefers a vinegar-based coleslaw rather than one with mayonnaise.