gowk
Americannoun
-
a stupid person; fool
-
a cuckoo
Etymology
Origin of gowk
1275–1325; Middle English goke < Old Norse gaukr; cognate with Old English gēac, German Gauch
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This is another fun term derived from the cuckoo, known as a gowk in some Scottish dialects.
From Time • Mar. 20, 2014
"Eh! bustle thyself, great gowk," and others of like freedom of opinion.
From The Passionate Elopement by MacKenzie, Compton
For oy in place of ou, as we should expect, cp. gowk and goilk, lowp and loip, etc., and the Norse laupa and loipa. 64Spae, spa, vb. to prophesy.
From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias
The Scotch employ the term "gowk" to express a fool in general, but more especially an April fool; and among them the practice which we have described is called "hunting the gowk."
From Connor Magan's Luck and Other Stories by M. T. W.
Just take yoursel' away, if ye please; for really ye're tormenting me—making a perfect gowk o' me, for neither end nor purpose.'
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 17 by Wilson, John Mackay
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
