Where does “goofspiel” come from?

goofspiel (English) comes from English goof, from English goff, from Breton gov, from Old Breton gob, from Proto-Celtic gobanos.

goofspiel (English): A card game, of interest in game theory, in which...

Definitions

  1. A card game, of interest in game theory, in which...

Ancestry of “goofspiel”, step by step

goofspiel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English goof

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgoofA mistake or error; A foolish and/or silly...
2EnglishgoffObsolete form of golf; A fool; a clown
3Bretongovsmith
4Old Bretongob—
5Proto-Celticgobanos—

via German spiel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanspiela game instance or way of playing
2Middle High Germanspil—
3Old High Germanspil—
4Proto-West Germanicspildance; game, exercise
Every word from Proto-Celtic gobanos →Every word from Old Breton gob →Every word from Breton gov →
goofspiel — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer