'putt' originates from Scots or northern English dialects, specifically the word 'putt' or variant forms, where it was an imitative/expressive word meaning 'to push or strike lightly'.

'putt' likely developed from Middle English/Scots forms related to 'put' or 'putten' (meaning to push or strike) and later acquired the specialized golf sense in the 19th century, becoming the modern English 'putt'.

Initially, it meant 'to push or strike lightly'; over time it specialized in sporting usage to mean 'a short, gentle golf stroke' and now commonly denotes that golf action.