Sagou
/ˈsæɡuː/noun
An obsolete English variant of sago, the edible starch extracted from certain tropical palms.
Did you know?Sagou is an English spelling variant of “sago,” whose history reflects the global trade in palm starch rather than an Indo-European or occult root.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 16th Century
Malay
sagu
“Starch or edible pith obtained from certain palms”
16th Century
Portuguese
sagu
“Sago starch, adopted through contact with Malay-speaking regions”
17th Century
French
sagou
“Sago; palm-derived starch”
17th–18th Century
English
sagou
“A variant spelling of sago”
Modern English
English
sago
“Edible starch, commonly used in puddings and similar foods”