How The Word “Football” Came?

The word football in English may mean any of the various team sports or the ball used in that respective sport. It also depends on the national or regional origin and location of an individual using that word. The very early reference to this game probably comes from 1280 at Ulgham, Northumberland, England.

The sport was played in Ireland in 1308. It also has a documented reference to John McCrocan who was a spectator at a “football game” at Newcastle, County Down. Another reference comes from 1321 at Shouldham, Norfolk, England. The accepted etymology of word football arose in reference to the action of foot kicking a ball. The word has been originally referred to several games in medieval Europe which were played on foot. These games were usually played by peasants as the aristocrats class used to play horse-riding sports. This sport also referred to banned kicking.

The very first written use of football word describing it as ball was specified in 1486. The word got its usage in verb form (footballing) in 1599.

By: Bhavna Sharma

Content: en.wikipedia.org