goal English · revision 3353

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=before 1333 (Shoreham's Poems); 1531 (Elyot)|origins=ang *gāl}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɡəʊl/, US /ɡoʊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) An isolated Middle English gol “boundary, limit” appears once in the early 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and it may be [[inh|ang|*gāl|t=obstacle, barrier]], implied by [[m|ang|gǣlan|t=to hinder]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(AHD 2000) which would make it a variant of Middle English gale “a way, course”.^(Etymonline) Less likely, according to Barnhart, it is from Old French [[m|fro|gaule|t=long pole, stake]], of Germanic origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Klein compares the sense development of Latin [[m|la|mēta|t=end, boundary; goal]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Boundary, limit”: before 1333, in Shoreham's ''Poems'',^(Barnhart 1988) about 1315 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The word does not recur until 1531, in Elyot's ''The Boke Named the Governour'', as the end point of a race,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and Barnhart suggests that in the two centuries between it may have survived only in sports.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense “the object of effort or ambition” is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the posts or net into which a ball is driven in games such as football from 1548^(OED 1989) or the 1540s.^(Etymonline) Scoring by driving the ball there is also a goal.^(AHD) In translations of Latin authors it was used for the column marking each end of a Roman racecourse, from 1667.^(OED 1989) ''Goalkeeper'' is from 1638 and ''goalie'' from 1921.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, in rugby “to convert a try into a goal”, is from 1922.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1333 – ''gol'', a boundary.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1531 – the end point of a race.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540s – the object of effort; the goal in a game.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1638 – ''goalkeeper''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1921 – ''goalie''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1922 – verb, in rugby.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The purpose toward which an effort is directed; an [[objective]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # In games, the structure or area into which players try to send the ball or puck.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A score made in this way.^(AHD)

+ # The finish line of a race.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[goalless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[goalkeeper]]

+ * [[goalie]]

+ * [[goalpost]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster notes a chiefly Northern American pronunciation /ɡuːl/ in the sporting senses.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}