Gawk vs Gowk - What's the difference?
gawk | gowk |
Appalachian English
(Northern England, Scotland) A cuckoo.
A fool.
* 1816 , , Old Mortality , ch. 8:
* 1976 , , Falstaff :
As nouns the difference between gawk and gowk
is that gawk is a cuckoo or gawk can be a simpleton, stupid or clumsy person while gowk is (northern england|scotland) a cuckoo.As verbs the difference between gawk and gowk
is that gawk is to stare or gape stupidly while gowk is to make foolish; to stupefy.gawk
English
Etymology 1
From a variant of gowk, from (etyl) gowke, from (etyl) . More at (l).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.Etymology 3
Perhaps from (etyl) .References
gowk
English
Noun
(s)- "Ill-fard, crazy, crack-brained gowk , that she is!" exclaimed the housekeeper.
- God has sent me gowks for secretaries.