General
gowk
What does gowk mean?
A fool, a simpleton, someone gormless. Old word, still understood in Geordie and Scots country.
"Stood there like a gowk while the bus drove off."
Origin
Old Norse 'gaukr' — cuckoo. The bird's reputation for being daft got transferred to people. 'April gowk' = April fool in old northern usage.
Frequently asked questions
What does gowk mean?
A gowk is a fool — the word originally meant a cuckoo.
How do you use gowk in a sentence?
"Ye daft gowk, what did ye do that for?"
Where does gowk come from?
It originally meant a cuckoo, and came to describe a foolish or simple person.
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