Where does “goal” come from?

goal (Dutch) comes from English goal, from Middle English gol, from Old English gāl, from Basque gailu, from Proto-Germanic gailō, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰēy- — to yawn, gape; to go.

goal (Dutch): goal, target in sports, especially soccer; a hit...

Definitions

  1. goal, target in sports, especially soccer; a hit...

Ancestry of “goal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgoalA result that one is attempting to achieve; In...
2Middle Englishgolboundary, limit
3Old Englishgālobstacle, barrier, marker; wanton; wicked; bad;...
4Basquegailudevice
5Proto-Germanicgailōa gap; crevice; chasm; ravine
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰēy-to yawn, gape; to go

Words derived from “goal”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰēy- →
goal — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer