'aburabozu' originates from Japanese, specifically the word 'アブラボウズ', where 'アブラ' meant 'oil' and 'ボウズ' referred to a 'monk' or 'bald head', likely due to the fish's appearance.

'アブラボウズ' has been used in Japanese to describe this fish for centuries, and it was adopted into English as 'aburabozu' to describe the same species.

Initially, it referred to the fish's oily texture and appearance, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.