cambuca

English

Etymology

Late Latin cambuca (“hooked rod or stick”) referring to the 'club' used to play the game.

Noun

cambuca (uncountable)

1. A 12th century English game somewhat similar to golf in that it was played with a wooden ball similar to a golf ball.
   • 1801, Joseph Strutt, The sports and pastimes of the people of England, page 97:

     GOLF. - there are many games played with the ball that require the assistance of a club or bat […] In the reign of Edward III. the Latin name cambuca was applied to the pastime […] .

   • 1896, John Kerr, The golf-book of East Lothian, page 23:

     Thoug golf as it has been played, from time immemorial in Scotland, is more closely allied to the French game jeu de mail, and the Roman game cambuca, an opinion has been long held by writers on the subject that we owe golf to Holland […] .

   • 2001, Paul B. Newman, Daily life in the Middle Ages:
   • 2008, Adam Sherman, Golf's Book of First, page 7:

     The next incarnation of golf shows up in England while Edward III was in power. In cambuca or cambuta a curved stick similar to the one use^[sic] in paganica, was used […] .