Erbus

Volga German

Etymology

Borrowed from Russian арбуз (arbuz).

Noun

Erbus (plural Erbusen)

1. watermelon

References

• Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Volkskunde der Unviersität Wien, volume 4 (Verlag A. Schendl), page 49: Grün wie Schnee / Weiß wie Klee / Rot wie Blut / Schmeckt sehr gut. (Erbus, so nannten die Rußlanddeutschen die Wassermelone, Teresa Hardt, Urdinarrain)
• Journal of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, volumes 15-16, (1992), page 46: Who could ever forget the eigemachte^[sic] Erbusen? The Germans call them Wassermelone. [Ed. note: Erbus probably was borrowed from the Russian arbuz (watermelon).] For this delicacy the watermelons would be picked late in the season when they were not too ripe and would remain firm.