subs. (colloquial).—A simpleton, especially an awkward one, whether male or female. For synonyms, see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD. [Scots GOWK = a cuckoo; a fool; whence, TO GOWK = to play the fool. As in the ‘To þe Derisioun of Wantoun Wemen.’ (Bannatyne MS., 1567, 52), ‘To gar thame ga in gucking’ = to make them play the fool.]
1837. H. MARTINEAU, Society in America, i., 299. Becoming aware of their deficiencies, as the place began to be peopled from the eastward, he sent a son of sixteen to school, and a younger one to college; but they proved ‘such GAWKS,’ that they were unable to learn, or even to remain in the society of others who were learning; and their old father has bought land in Missouri, whither he was about to take his children, to remove them from the contempt of their neighbours.
1882. J. D. MCCABE, New York by Sunlight and Gaslight, p. 217. I wasn’t half as awkward as some of the GAWKS about me.
1887. HAROLD FREDERIC, Seth’s Brother’s Wife, ch. iv. Girls brought up to be awkward GAWKS, without a chance in life.
Verb. (colloquial).—To loiter round; to PLAY THE GOAT. [The same verb is used by JONSON (The Magnetic Lady, iii., 4, 1632) in the sense of amazed, or bamboozled, i.e., absolutely befooled: Nay, look how the man stands, as he were gowked!]
1888. F. R. STOCKTON, Rudder Grange, ch. xvi. That afternoon we GAWKED around, a-lookin’ at all the outside shows, for Jone said he’d have to be pretty careful of his money now.
