Where does “golf” come from?

golf (Catalan) comes from Latin colfus, from Latin colpus, from Ancient Greek κόλπος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷelp-, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

golf (Catalan): gulf; golf

Definitions

gulf; golf

Ancestry of “golf”, step by step

golf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Latin colfus

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Latin	colfus	—
2	Latin	colpus	stroke; strike; hit
3	Ancient Greek	κόλπος	bosom, lap; a fold in fabric around the bosom;...
4	Proto-Indo-European	kʷelp-	to bend; to curve, arch
5	Proto-Indo-European	kʷel-	to turn

via English golf

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	English	golf	A ball game played by individuals competing...
2	Middle Dutch	colve	—
3	Proto-Germanic	*kulbaz	round object, lump
4	Proto-Indo-European	ǵel-	to swallow; swallow

Words derived from “golf”

golfista
engolfar-se
golfístic

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →