Gawk

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔːk

From a variant of gowk, from Middle English gowke, from Old Norse gaukr ("cuckoo"), from Proto-Germanic *gaukaz ("cuckoo"). Cognate with Danish gøg, Swedish gök, German Gauch, Old English ġēac. More at yeke.

Full definition of gawk

Noun

1. a cuckoo
2. a fool

A Middle-Appalachian Americanism, since late 1800s, possibly misconstruing French "gauche," and leading to use of adj gawky for a person or process that is uncoordinated or awkward.

Noun

1. a simpleton, stupid or clumsy person.

Perhaps from Old Norse gá ("to heed")

Online Etymology Dictionary|gawk

.

Verb

1. To stare or gape stupidly
2. To stare conspicuously.