Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “goal” come from?

Goal comes from Middle English gol, from Old English gāl, of unknown origin.

goal (English): A result that one is attempting to achieve; In...

Definitions

  1. A result that one is attempting to achieve; In...

Ancestry of “goal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgolboundary, limit
2Old Englishgālobstacle, barrier, marker; wanton; wicked; bad;...
3Basquegailudevice
4Proto-Germanicgailōa gap; crevice; chasm; ravine
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰēy-to yawn, gape; to go

Words derived from “goal”

  • goalie
  • goalkeeper
  • subgoal
  • goaltender
  • goalpost
  • goaltending
  • goalsetting
  • goalless
  • goalkeeping
  • goalmouth
  • goalscorer
  • goaler
  • goalscoring
  • goalball
  • goalward
  • supergoal
  • multigoal
  • goalkicking
  • nongoal
  • goalkicker
  • goalside
  • antigoal
  • goallessness
  • goalbox
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰēy- →