gawk

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old English[1], akin to Old Norse gaukr (cuckoo) (Danish gøg, Swedish gök) and Old High German gouh (German Gauch).

[edit] Noun

Singular
gawk

Plural
gawks

gawk (plural gawks)

  1. a cuckoo

[edit] Etymology 2

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.

[edit] Noun

Singular
gawk

Plural
gawks

gawk (plural gawks)

  1. a simpleton, stupid or clumsy person.

[edit] Etymology 3

Perhaps from Old Norse  (to heed)[2].

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to gawk

Third person singular
gawks

Simple past
gawked

Past participle
gawked

Present participle
gawking

to gawk (third-person singular simple present gawks, present participle gawking, simple past and past participle gawked)

  1. To stare or gape stupidly
  2. To stare conspicuously.
[edit] Translations

[edit] References

  • Notes:
  1. ^ Gawk in Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
  2. ^gawk” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001