LL-L "Etymology" 2005.04.02 (03) [E]

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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Tom Mc Rae <t.mcrae at uq.net.au>
Subject: LL-L "Traditions" 2005.04.01 (03) [E]

On 02/04/2005, at 2:17 AM, R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
  wrote:

Starting to get intriguing Ron.
on the US carnival circuit some midways had a revolting show involving
a total alcoholic who would rip up live chickens and eat them.
He was known in Carny parlance as 'A Geek'.  Looking at your Durch and
Low Saxon examples I can't help wondering.....

> Gowk_ and _gack_ appear to be related to Dutch _gek_, Low Saxon _gek_
> (<Geck>) and German _Geck_, all 'fool'.
>
Regards
Tom Mc Rae
Brisbane Australia
Oh Wad Some Power the Giftie Gie Us
Tae See Oorsel's as Ithers See Us
Robert Burns

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

G'day, Tom!

The _Oxford English Dictionary_ seems to be leaning toward the theory of
"geek" belonging to the group "geck," "gack" and "gowk."  So your hunch
seems to be on the right track.

Interestingly, Scots _gowk_ 'fool' also means 'cuckoo'. Earlier?  Is it a
coincidence that in many languages people refer to cuckoos when indicating
that someone isn't "right in the head"?  In German, such a person has a
"bird" (_Vogel_).  Might all this have something to do with the cuckoo's odd
behavior, including its habit of tricking other birds into raising its
young?

Cheers!
Reinhard/Ron

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