gawp (n.)

"fool, simpleton," 1825, perhaps from gawp (v.) "to yawn, gape" (as in astonishment), which is attested from 1680s, a dialectal survival of galp (c. 1300), which is related to yelp or gape and perhaps confused with or influenced by gawk.

Entries linking to gawp

yelp (v.)

Old English gielpan (West Saxon), gelpan (Anglian) "to boast, exult," from Proto-Germanic *gel- (source also of Old Saxon galpon, Old Norse gjalpa "to yelp," Old Norse gjalp "boasting," Old High German gelph "outcry"), from PIE root *ghel- (1) "to call, cry out." Meaning "utter a quick, sharp, bark or cry" is 1550s, probably from the noun. Related: Yelped; yelping.

gape (v.)

early 13c., from an unrecorded Old English word or else from Old Norse gapa "to open the mouth wide, gape" (see gap (n.)). Related: Gaped; gaping. As a noun, "act of opening the mouth," from 1530s.

gawk

*ghieh-

See all related words (4) >

Share gawp

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/gawp

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/gawp">Etymology of gawp by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of gawp. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/gawp

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of gawp,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/gawp.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of gawp.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/gawp. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of gawp.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/gawp (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of gawp

gawp (v.)

look with amazement; look stupidly;

Synonyms: goggle / gape / gawk

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near gawp

gave

gavel

gavotte

gawk

gawky

gawp

gay

gaydar

gayety

Gaylord

Gaza