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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Golf, Gouf, n.¹ Also: golfe, golff, goulf; goufe, gouff(e, gowf, gowff(e, gauff; goff(e, gofe, goofe; goif(f. [Prob. ad. Du. kolf, the club used in a game similar to golf.] The game of golf.(a) 1457 Acts II. 48/2.
At the fut bal ande the golf be vtterly criyt done and nocht vsyt 1471 Ib. 100/1.
It is thocht expedient … at the futbal & golf be abusit in tym cummyng 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 418.
To the King to play at the golf with the Erle of Bothuile, iij Franch crounis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 285.
Certane horsmen of Edinburgh … past to the links of Leith, and thair tuik nyne burgessis of Edinburgh playand at the golf 1596 Elgin Rec. II. 46.
Walter Hay … accusit for playing at the boulis and golff upoun Sondaye in the tym of the sermon 1608 Kinghorn Kirk S. 14.
William Stokis, … Thomas Craig, quha war playing at the goulf upon the Sabbothe day 1651 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 440.
James Rodger [etc.] … were complained upon for playing at the golf upon ane Lord's day 1662 Brodie Diary 240.
The King went to goulf in … (Spittle) Feildsattrib. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 54 b.
I send thé here a playand ball, And ane golf staff to driffe the ball vithe all 1583 St. A. Kirk S. 515.
That thai … playit in the golf feildis … [in] tyme of fast and preiching(b) 1491 Acts II. 226/2.
That in na place of the realme be vsit fut bawis, gouff, or vthir sic vnproffitable sportis c1563 Reg. Panmure I. p. xxxii.
He exerciset the gowf, and oftymes past to Barry lynkes, quhan the wadfie vas for drink 1598 St. A. Kirk S. 846.
Being accusit for prophaning of the Saboth day in playing at the gouf eftir nune 1599 Ib. 913.
To play at the goufe … the tyme of sessioun 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 38.
Playeris at gouff, bowllis, kyillis or any vther pastyme on the Saboth day 1610 S. Leith Rec. 8.
Thair sall be na public playing suffred on the Sabbath dayes, as playing at … archerie, gowfe, &c. 1642 Mun. Univ. Glasg. II. 466.
That the schollers be exercised in lawful games, such as gouffe, archarie, and the lyk 1690 Seafield Corr. 64.
Ife … you have a mind for a touch at long gauff tomorrow, lett mee know(c) 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. (MS) XVI. (J).
At the goiff, because thai war partismen wyth the said Jhone in wynning and tyinsell [etc.] 1565 Ib. XXVI. (J).
Sic playis wnlefull, & speciallie cartis, dyis, tabillis, goif, kylis, bylis, & sic wther playis 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 325.
Keipand the said … rod quhill it come to the fuird of the goiff burne(d) 1600-1610 Melvill 29.
For archerie and goff, I haid bow, arrose, glub and bals 1621 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 458.
Playing at the goff in the park on the Sabboth aftirnone 1646 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 153.
For prophayning the Sabbath day in goeing to the gofe in tyme of sermone 1665 Lauder Journal 132.
A blind man … that could play weill to the goofe 1661 Gordon Descr. Aberd. 18.
Heer the inhabitants recreat themselves with … foot ball, goffe [etc.]