gulf English · revision 6821

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=grc κόλπος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡʌlf/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English golf, goulf, [[bor|fro|golfe|t=gulf, whirlpool]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[it|golfo|t=gulf, bay]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-lat|colpus]], colfus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|κόλπος|tr=kólpos|t=bosom; fold of a garment; bay]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) Etymonline and Barnhart connect the Greek word with PIE [[ine-pro|*kʷolp-|t=arch, vault]], the source of [[m|ang|hwealf|t=vault]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A profound depth, an abyss: probably about 1380 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The OED's first sense, a portion of the sea partly enclosed by land, is from about 1400.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that the Greek word had many senses connected with a curved shape, and that the ''bay'' and ''depth'' senses reached English at the same time.^(Cresswell 2021) A whirlpool, and figuratively anything that swallows things up, is from 1538,^(OED 1989) and a yawning chasm in the earth from before 1533.^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, a wide gap or division between people, from 1557, follows Luke 16:26, ''between us and you there is a great gulf fixed''.^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) The ''Gulf'' alone can mean the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mexico or, in Australia, the Gulf of Carpentaria.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – a deep abyss.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – a large inlet of the sea.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1538 – a whirlpool.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1557 – a wide gap between people (after Luke).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A large area of sea partly enclosed by land, usually larger than a [[bay]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A deep wide [[chasm]]; an [[abyss]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A wide gap or [[division]], as in understanding or opinion.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something, such as a [[whirlpool]], that swallows things up.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To swallow up; to [[engulf]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gulflike]]

+ * [[gulfy]]

+ * [[engulf]]

+ * [[Gulfport]]

+ * [[gulfweed]]

+ * [[Gulf Stream]]

+ * [[Gulf War]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bay]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}