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gowk

[ gouk, gohk ]

noun

  1. British Dialect. cuckoo.
  2. a fool or simpleton.


gowk

/ ɡaʊk /

noun

  1. a stupid person; fool
  2. a cuckoo
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of gowk1

1275–1325; Middle English goke < Old Norse gaukr; cognate with Old English gēac, German Gauch
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gowk1

from Old Norse gaukr cuckoo; related to Old High German gouh
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Example Sentences

In France the party fooled is called un poisson d'avril, 'an April fish'; in Scotland, a 'gowk', or cuckoo.

Ye hinnae as muckle o' the Sicht as wad let ye see when Leevie was makin' a gowk o' ye to gar ye hang oot signals for her auld jo.

Just take yoursel' away, if ye please; for really ye're tormenting me—making a perfect gowk o' me, for neither end nor purpose.'

I would offer to do this myself, only I'm a great heavy gowk, and Haggis is no' much better.

It was no more an essay than a twig is a tree, for the gowk had stuck in the middle of his second page.

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go with the flowgowl