gowk

1 of 2

noun

ˈgəu̇k,
ˈgäk,
ˈgōk
plural -s
1
dialectal, British : cuckoo
2
dialectal, British : simpleton, fool, gawk
sat there all evening like a great gowk—Flora Thompson

gowk

2 of 2

intransitive verb

ˈgəu̇k
-ed/-ing/-s
chiefly Scottish
: to gaze or stare vacantly

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English goke, gowke from Old Norse gaukr cuckoo; akin to Old English gēac cuckoo, Old High German gouh

Intransitive verb

Middle English (Scots dialect) gowken, perhaps from gowk, noun

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Dictionary Entries Near gowk

go without

gowk

gowked

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Gowk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gowk. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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