hosel
UK[ˈhəʊz(ə)l]US[ˈhoʊz(ə)l]
n
The socket in the head of a golf club into which the shaft is fitted.
Etymology
The term 'hosel' is a specialized 20th-century coinage within the lexicon of golf equipment. It is formed by analogy from the word 'hose', which originates from Old English 'hosa', meaning a covering for the leg, and later any flexible tube. The addition of the diminutive suffix '-el', common in words like 'tunnel' or 'shovel', creates a sense of a small, socket-like tube. Thus, the word's logic directly connects the concept of a cylindrical pipe ('hose') to the specific, small socket designed to receive and hold the shaft of a golf club.
Analysis
The word 'hosel' is a simplex noun. It is a modern formation derived from the word 'hose', referring to its tubular or socket-like nature, combined with the diminutive suffix '-el'.
Examples
A mis-hit that strikes the ball from the hosel of the club is often called a "shank."
The fitter adjusted the loft by bending the clubhead at the hosel.
Damage to the hosel can affect the integrity of the entire club.