Definition of the word tee

The origin of the word "tee" in golf is unclear, but it is believed to have been in use since the late 18th century. One theory is that it comes from the Scottish word "tein," which means "to place" or "to put." This may refer to the act of placing the ball on a tee before hitting it. Another theory suggests that the word "tee" comes from the Maori word "tee," which means "to rest." This may refer to the ball resting on the tee before being hit. The word "tee" was first used in a golf context in the 1820s, and it gained widespread use by the mid-1800s. The modern golf tee, as we know it today, was patented in the late 1800s by a Scottish golfer named Robert White.