Where does “bowl game” come from?

bowl game (English) comes from English game, from Middle English game, from Old English gamen, from Proto-West Germanic gaman, from Proto-Germanic gamaną, from Proto-Germanic ga-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

bowl game (English): A postseason college football competition

Definitions

  1. A postseason college football competition

Ancestry of “bowl game”, step by step

bowl game traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English game

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgameA playful or competitive activity; A video game;...
2Middle EnglishgameEntertainment or an instance of it; that which is...
3Old Englishgamengame, sport, or pastime; joy, mirth, or pleasure
4Proto-West Germanicgamanpleasure, fun, amusement, entertainment
5Proto-Germanicgamanąa fellow human, associate, companion; pleasure,...
6Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt
10Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
11Old High Germankuti
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

via English bowl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbowlA roughly hemispherical container used to hold,...
2Middle Englishbollepod; shell
3Old Englishbollabowl
4Proto-Germanicbullôround object; ball; bowl
5Proto-Germanicballôball
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-
bowl game — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer