A Goal Was Originally a Boundary Marker
A goal is an aim, and the scoring target in a game. The word first meant a post marking a limit.
A goal is an aim or desired result, and in sport the structure or act of scoring. The earliest recorded sense is a boundary or limit marker, probably a post set up to show the end of a race. From the finishing post came the sporting target, and from the target came the figurative aim. The word's own origin is uncertain; Old English *gal*, an obstacle, is one suggestion but not a settled one.
- An aim. *A long-term goal.*
- A scoring target. *Shoot at goal.*
- A score. *A late goal.*
- A boundary (archaic). *A goal post.*
- Middle English — *gol*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | goal | A goal. |
| Plural | goals | Goals. |
| Agent | goalkeeper | A goalkeeper. |
| Compound | goalpost | A goalpost. |
| Middle English | gol | A boundary. |
- She set herself a goal.Aim.
- He scored in the last minute.Sport.
- It first meant a boundary.Etymology.
Goal idioms
- Move the goalposts — change the criteria unfairly
- An own goal — an action that harms your own side
- Goal-oriented — focused on results
- In the home straight — near the finishing post
- Both goal and finishing post come from racing markers
Middle English *gol*, a boundary or limit, of uncertain origin.
Did goal always mean a target?
No. Its earliest sense was a boundary or limit marker, probably a post showing where a race ended.
Where does move the goalposts come from?
From the unfairness of changing a target after play has started, a metaphor from field sports.