sago: [16] Sago is of Malay origin. The Portuguese were responsible for introducing the Malay term sāgū to English, as sagu; the modern form sago, which became established during the 17th and 18th centuries, came via Dutch.
"starch made of the piths of palms," 1570s, via Portuguese and Dutch from Malay sagu, the name of the palm tree from which it is obtained (attested in English in this sense from 1550s). Also borrowed in French (sagou), Spanish (sagu), German (Sago).
