Literary notes about gawk (AI summary)
The word "gawk" is used in literature both as a descriptive noun for a clumsy, foolish character and as a verb meaning to stare in a vacant or gawky manner. Authors apply it to evoke humor or mild derision, as when a character is branded a “great gawk” or “country gawk” to underscore his unsophisticated, bumbling nature [1, 2, 3, 4]. At the same time, the verb form captures the act of lingering, open-mouthed observation—as when someone is warned not to simply stand and gawk or is caught in the act of gawking at an unexpected scene [5, 6, 7]. Its usage is further enriched by regional flavors and playful modifications, contributing a vivid, often ironic tone that both lightens and sharpens characterization [8, 9, 10, 11, 12].
- "Will you let me finish, you great gawk?"
— from The Court Jester by Cornelia Baker - Billy the Gawk was not alone in thinking that he could outwit the Bishop.
— from The Deemster by Caine, Hall, Sir - I'm nae country gawk, but reared in the heart o' the toon.
— from Cleg Kelly, Arab of the City: His Progress and Adventures by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett - Well, she’s acted that country gawk I inferred in that letter to take me down that peg.
— from That Awful Letter: A Comedy for Girls by Edna I. MacKenzie - Ain't you got nothin' to do but stand an' gawk?
— from Under HandicapA Novel by Jackson Gregory - Joe craned his neck, and then he was ashamed to gawk.
— from Space Platform by Murray Leinster - Don't you stop to talk, and gawk around.
— from Winter Fun by William O. Stoddard - It reminds me of a drunken gawk, who swaggers along and carries the foolish gewgaw for a show.
— from The Progressionists, and Angela. by Conrad von Bolanden - Other dialect words for 'awkward' are Dev., cat-handed , Yorks., gawk-handed , and Nhamp., keck-handed .
— from A Glossary of Words used in the Country of Wiltshire by E. H. (Edward Hungerford) Goddard - lummox , n. ( Low ) booby , gawk , lout , lubber , yahoo, bumpkin , boor .
— from Putnam's Word Book A Practical Aid in Expressing Ideas Through the Use of an Exact and Varied Vocabulary by Louis A. (Louis Andrew) Flemming - Whenever I go out to walk, All the geese begin to gawk;
— from The Peter Patter Book of Nursery Rhymes by Leroy F. (Leroy Freeman) Jackson - She was tall and lean—a college friend had described her exactly as "half goddess and half gawk."
— from Walking Shadows: Sea Tales and Others by Alfred Noyes
