411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Erbus
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Volga German
Etymology
gmw-vog ru арбуз.
Noun
gmw-vog noun plural Erbusen
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 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.