Origin of "Fore!"

[Linear_Crack]

I was golfing last weekend and heard the very familiar “Fore!” being used to warn other golfers of incoming golf balls.

I asked a few golfers if they knew the orgins of the word and none could give me an answer, other than the it’s use, that is.

Can anyone direct me to a link or quick history lesson on the origins of the word “Fore” used in playing golf?

Thanks in advance!

[JeffB]

Both the OED and Webster’s Unabridged say that it’s probably a contraction of before. The OED gives a cite from 1878 which defines fore as:

Fore! a warning cry to people in front of the stroke.

It is basically a warning to people who are before (i.e. in front of) you.

[Gozu_Tashoya]

That’s the answer I’ve heard most often too. Made me determined to, if I ever get around to picking up golf, just yell ‘Duck!’

[Darqangelle]

UNless you’re really bad at golf… and end up having ot yell “AFT!”

[yabob]

Real quick now - if you’re righthanded and hit a nasty slice, do you yell “port” or “starboard”?

[Turbo_Dog]

Here is a pretty good explanation for it.

http://www.mrgolf.com/fore.html

it was mistakenly believed that the term had its origin when an early Scottish golfer traipsing across the links cried out to a fellow golfer who was about to be beaned, “Forrr Gud’s sakes, mon, git yurrr hed duwn if ya dunna care t’ be feelin’ a rrright smarrrt boomp.” It is assumed that warning cry was unsuccessful in preventing the unwanted “boomp” since it was a tad on the long side, so it was shortened a bit to make it more practical. (However, even the shortened version, “Forrr Gud’s sakes, mon, git yurrr hed duwn!” even proved to be too long and ultimately all the golfers really had time for was the, “Forrr” part.)

I really liked that one, but apparently the real version is this:

‘One among many comes to the East Port (i.e., gate) of Leith, where lay two great pieces of ordnance, and where their enemies were known to be, and cried to his fellows that were at the gate making defence: “Ware Before!” and so fires one great piece, and thereafter the other.’ The cry of ‘Beware before’ – Look out in front – was, of course, the signal for the defenders of the gate to drop to the ground in order that the guns might be fired over them.

The situation is not dissimilar to that of the golfer intending to drive over the head of someone on the fairway in front, and the way in which the military signal ‘Ware before!’ might in the course of time be cut down to “Fore!” needs no explaining. ‘Look out in front!’

A righthanded slice would bonk someone from the port side, so I guess “Fore to Port”! would be a good battle cry?

[Linear_Crack]

Thanks Turbo!

At least now my paper will have some content. I couldn’t find anything on the subject.

!!

[Darqangelle]

You might want to get a cite for that, though… seeing as you’ll be quoting when writing your paper.