noun, masculine/bakaˈlao/plural: bacalaos
cod; salt cod; klipfish; stockfish
From Dutch bakkeljauw, kabeljauw, from Old Dutch *cabillao, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Latin baculum (“stick, staff”), referring to the way cod were split and dried on wooden sticks. Or, possibly borrowed or influenced by Basque bakailao, which could be related to the Dutch word. Cognate with Italian baccalà, Portuguese bacalhau, Galician bacallau, Catalan bacallà.