Where does “gawk” come from?
Gawk derives from English gaw, which comes from Old Norse gaukr, itself from Old Norse geyja, tracing back through Proto-Germanic gōdaz to Proto-Indo-European gʰedʰ-.
gawk (English): A cuckoo; A fool; a simpleton; a stupid or clumsy...
Definitions
- A cuckoo; A fool; a simpleton; a stupid or clumsy...
Ancestry of “gawk”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | gowk | A cuckoo; A fool; To make foolish; to stupefy |
| 2 | Middle English | gowke | Alternative form of goke |
| 3 | Old Norse | gaukr | cuckoo |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | gaukaz | cuckoo |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰAuǵ- | — |
Words derived from “gawk”