Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - gulf

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English goulf, from Middle French golfe, from Italian golfo, from Late Latin colpus, from Greek kolpos bosom, ~; akin to Old English hwealf vault, Old High German walbo  Date: 15th century  1. a part of an ocean or sea extending into the land  2. a deep chasm ; abyss  3. whirlpool  4. a wide gap the ~ between generations  II. transitive verb  Date: 1807 en~