Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - goal

 noun  Etymology: Middle English gol boundary, limit  Date: 1531  1.  a. the terminal point of a race  b. an area to be reached safely in children's games  2. the end toward which effort is directed ; aim  3.  a. an area or object toward which players in various games attempt to advance a ball or puck and usually through or into which it must go to score points  b. the act or action of causing a ball or puck to go through or into such a ~  c. the score resulting from such an act  Synonyms: see intention  • ~ intransitive verb  • ~less adjective GOALIE  noun  Date: 1921 goalkeeper