golf English · revision 4514

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1457|origins=dum colf}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Scots golf, gouf,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) probably an alteration [[bor|dum|colf|t=stick, club, bat]], colve,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) used in the Netherlands for a ball game called kolven;^(Barnhart 1988) it is related to German Kolben “club, mace” and Old Norse kolfr “clapper of a bell”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*kulbaz|alt=*kulb-]].^(Barnhart 1988) NODE notes that golf is recorded before these Dutch games,^(NODE 1998) and Hoad calls it of unknown origin.^(Hoad 1986) Despite a story that goes round the internet, golf is not an acronym.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ 1457, in a Scottish statute on forbidden games, alongside fut-bol.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The game was played in Scotland from the 15th century, or the 14th in Etymonline, and became popular in England in the 1500s.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) An ordinance of 1491 decreed that football, golf and other “unprofitable sports” should not be used anywhere in the realm.^(Etymonline) The ''golf ball'' is attested from the 1540s,^(Etymonline) ''golf widow'' from 1890,^(Etymonline) and the motorized ''golf cart'' from 1951.^(Etymonline) The verb, to play golf, is from 1800.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Some old-fashioned players pronounce it /ɡɒf/.^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1457 – in a Scottish statute.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1491 – forbidden as an unprofitable sport.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – ''golf ball''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1800 – verb.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1890 – ''golf widow''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1951 – ''golf cart''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A game played on a large outdoor course in which players use [[club]]s to hit a small hard ball into a series of holes, usually 9 or 18, in as few strokes as possible.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The letter G in a [[phonetic alphabet]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To play golf.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[golfer]]

+ * [[barnyard golf]]

+ * [[golf bag]]

+ * [[golf ball]]

+ * [[golf cart]]

+ * [[golf club]]

+ * [[golf course]]

+ * [[golf widow]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[links]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}