Understanding the coleslaw origin requires a quick trip back to the late 1600s. Originally known as koolsla by Dutch settlers in New York, the dish literally translates to “cabbage salad.”
- Kool: Dutch for cabbage.
- Sla: Short for salade.
While it’s now a staple of modern comfort food, the journey from Dutch “koolsla” to American “coleslaw” is full of fascinating etymological twists.
Coleslaw Origin: At a Glance
- Modern Meaning: Today, “slaw” refers to any shredded vegetable salad, though cabbage remains the traditional base.
- Original Name: Derived from the Dutch word koolsla (kool = cabbage; sla = salad).
- Historical Arrival: Brought to New York (New Amsterdam) by Dutch settlers in the late 17th century.
- The “Cold Slaw” Myth: Americans often mistook the word “cole” for “cold” because the dish is served chilled, leading to the incorrect name “cold slaw”.
The linguistic journey from the Dutch koolsla to the American ‘coleslaw’ is documented in the scholarly work Cookies, Coleslaw, and Stoops, which explores how Dutch settlers in the 17th century permanently shaped the American culinary vocabulary
Did You Know? The Dutch Legacy in Your Kitchen
The coleslaw origin isn’t the only linguistic gift from the Dutch. When 17th-century settlers arrived in New Amsterdam (modern-day New York), they brought several terms that became uniquely American:
- Cookie: While the British use the term “biscuit,” Americans adopted “cookie” from the Dutch word koekje. You can explore why this happened in our deep dive on why Americans say cookie instead of biscuit.
- Stoop: That front porch or staircase you sit on? That comes from the Dutch word stoep.
- Boss: Even the word “boss” has Dutch roots, coming from baas.
Curious about the other side of the pond? Check out our companion piece on why the British say biscuit instead of cookie.
Coleslaw Etymology: Orphan Words and “Cold Slaw”
While the etymology of coleslaw is straightforward, there were a few interesting twists and turns. We eventually anglicized the Dutch word kool, for cabbage, into cole. Along the way, the original meaning of kool became a bit confused, and many people thought it meant cold, especially since we do indeed serve the salad chilled.
Due to this misunderstanding, Americans attempted to turn coleslaw into “cold slaw.” This name never took hold. Nevertheless, the term cold slaw is sometimes seen on restaurant menus, which, to me, is as irritating as tomatoes and carrots in a Caesar Salad!
Cole is an Orphan Word, Replaced by Cabbage
The word cabbage entered the English language in the 15th century and gradually replaced the word cole. Today, “cole” is an orphan word, surviving almost exclusively in the name coleslaw.
However, the term persists in other forms across the globe:
- Kale: In Scotland, the term survived as kale, referring to cabbage with outward-curling leaves. This is the same “Blue Scotch” or curly kale we buy in America today.
- Boerenkool: The Dutch call this “farmer’s cabbage”. While once considered a humble green, we now recognize kale for its superb nutritional content and ability to thrive in poor soil.
- Kohlrabi: This German name literally means “cabbage-turnip”.
- Cauliflower: This term translates to “flowered cabbage”.
Diverse Cabbage Relatives Most people think of kale as one specific vegetable, but it actually includes many different cultivars. This family of plants is so diverse that it even includes modern hybrids; for instance, you can see how these relationships play out in the difference between rapini and broccolini.
The cabbage family even includes the “rapeseed” used for oil. While a kitchen staple today, its name is a modern invention; you can read more about its history in our deep dive on toxic canola oil warnings.
Beyond the Coleslaw Origin: The Story of Colewort: While the modern word “coleslaw” is a Dutch import, the “cole” prefix itself is an ancient linguistic orphan. It survives from Colewort, the medieval English name for the wild, non-heading ancestor of all cabbages. Before we began breeding these plants for tight, crunchy heads, they were loose-leafed greens boiled into pottages—a far cry from the chilled salad we know today.
We Never Used the Slaw Outside of Coleslaw
It does not seem we ever used the Dutch word “slaw” for salad outside the term coleslaw. For many years, English speakers had already been using the word “salad” for other types of salads. And, the Dutch also used the word salade. While the Dutch word “sla,” which became slaw, was an abbreviation for salad in the term “kool sla,” it was also used to refer to lettuce.
What is Coleslaw?
The word slaw, today, is no longer limited to just coleslaw. It has come to mean any type of dressed salad with shredded vegetables.
Slaws may be sweet or savory, chilled or warm. But most of them still tend to contain some type of cabbage, probably because cabbage can be shredded and still give a good crunch. However, root vegetables, fennel, beets, carrots, and many other vegetables can be used.
Difference Between Coleslaw and Regular Salad
The main difference between a slaw and a regular salad, except for the shredding part, is that a slaw can stand up to being stored to allow the flavors to meld, without turning into a limp, soggy mess.
This does not mean, however, that a slaw has to be kept for a while before serving. In the end, it doesn’t really matter what you call it, as long as it tastes good and has a nice crunch. All slaws tend to be called coleslaw in colloquial English collectively.
Coleslaw Origin: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the true coleslaw origin? The coleslaw origin is Dutch; the name comes from the term koolsla, where kool means cabbage and sla is a shorthand for salade. 17th-century Dutch settlers brought this tradition to New Amsterdam, which we now know as New York.
- Is “coleslaw” supposed to be called “cold slaw”? No, though it is a common mistake. Because the dish is served chilled, people often misinterpreted the “cole” (an anglicized version of the Dutch kool) as “cold”. However, the term “cold slaw” never officially replaced the original name.
- What is the difference between cabbage and cole? “Cole” is an older term for cabbage that survives today mainly in “coleslaw”. While the word “cabbage” replaced “cole” in general English during the 15th century, the original root lives on in other vegetables like kale, kohlrabi, and cauliflower.
- Can any shredded vegetable salad be called a slaw? In modern culinary terms, yes. While the traditional coleslaw origin involves cabbage, the term “slaw” is now used for any dressed salad featuring shredded vegetables, such as broccoli, beets, or carrots.
