Gowke

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A cuckoo, especially the European bird known for laying its eggs in other birds' nests ; a foolish or gullible individual
2. The cuckoo bird found in Europe ; a person who is easily deceived or acts in a silly manner
3. A cuckoo species ; someone who is stupid, witless, or prone to making foolish mistakes

Etymology: Before it meant a dupe, a "gowk" was a cuckoo. The bird's name comes from Old Norse "gaukr," and the English word is related to Old English "geac," so the cuckoo has been called this for over a thousand years. The "fool" sense grew out of the bird's reputation, since its habit of laying eggs in other birds' nests and its monotonous call made it seem simple or easily taken in. "Gowke" appears to be a variant spelling of the same word, and it is most at home in Scots and northern English. The sense of folly stuck, and it gave rise to a Scottish custom. "Hunting the gowk" was an April Fool's prank in which someone was sent on a fool's errand, such as fetching a nonexistent item. The phrase "gowk storm," used in Scotland and northern England for a sudden spring snowfall, probably alludes to the cuckoo's arrival around the same season, though the exact link is uncertain.

Synonyms: fool, cuckoo, dupe

Antonyms: sage, wise person