'albacore' originates from Portuguese, specifically the word 'albacor', where 'al-' is an Arabic definite article and 'bacor' meant 'young camel'.

'albacor' transformed into the English word 'albacore', and eventually became the modern English word 'albicores' as its plural form.

Initially, it referred to a specific type of fish, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.