Where does “golf” come from?

golf (West Frisian) comes from Dutch golf, from English golf, from Middle Dutch colve, from Proto-Germanic *kulbaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

golf (West Frisian): wave (motion in a liquid)

Definitions

  1. wave (motion in a liquid)

Ancestry of “golf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchgolfwave; gulf; golf
2EnglishgolfA ball game played by individuals competing...
3Middle Dutchcolve—
4Proto-Germanic*kulbazround object, lump
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic *kulbaz →Every word from Middle Dutch colve →