1. A place toward which players of a game try to advance a ball or puck in order to score points.
2. A successful attempt at scoring.

ETYM French gaule pole, Prov. French waule, of German origin; cf. Fries. walu staff, stick, rod, Goth. walus, Icel. völr a round stick; prob. akin to Eng. wale.
The state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it; SYN. end.