Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - gulf

n. & v. --n. 1 a stretch of sea consisting of a deep inlet with a narrow mouth. 2 (the Gulf) the Persian Gulf. 3 a deep hollow; a chasm or abyss. 4 a wide difference of feelings, opinion, etc. --v.tr. engulf; swallow up. Phrases and idioms Gulf Stream an oceanic warm current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico to Newfoundland where it is deflected into the Atlantic Ocean. Etymology: ME f. OF golfe f. It. golfo ult. f. Gk kolpos bosom, gulf