▪ I. geck, n.1 Obs. exc. dial.
(gɛk)
Forms: 6 geke, 7 gecke, 6, 9 geck (geek).
[app. a. LG. geck, = MDu. gec(k, ghec(k, Du. gek adj. and n.; related (either as source or derivative) to gecken geck v. From LG. the word passed into the HG. dialects, MHG. geck(e, G. geck, and into Scand., Da. gjæk, Sw. gäck, Norw. gjekk, ? Icel. gikkr.]
A fool, simpleton; one who is befooled or derided, a dupe.
| 1515 Barclay Egloges i. (1570) A iij b, He is a foole, a sotte, and a geke also Which choseth..the worst [way] and most of ieoperdie. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. v. i. 351 Why haue you suffer'd me to be imprison'd..And made the most notorious gecke and gull That ere inuention plaid on? 1611 ― Cymb. v. iv. 67 To become the geeke [sic] and scorne o' th' others vilany. 1859 Geo. Eliot A. Bede 83 If she's tackled to a geck as everybody's laughing at. 1876 Whitby Gloss., Gawk, Geek, Gowk or Gowky, a fool; a person uncultivated; a dupe. |
▪ II. geck, n.2 Chiefly Sc.
(gɛk)
[= Du. and G. geck vbl. n. corresponding to gecken (see geck v.) as in G. gecken machen to play tricks; in geck sagen, Du. in gheck segghen (Kilian), to say in jest.]
A gesture of derision; an expression of scorn or contempt.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxvi. 28 Than all the feyndis lewche, and maid gekkis. 1576 Tyde tarryeth no Man in Collier E.E. Pop. Lit. (1863–4) 29 And though I have attire both costly and gay, Yet unlesse it be new, I shall have but a geck. 1597 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1085 ‘Gudeman, gramercy for ȝour geck’ Quod Hope, and lawly louts. |
b. to get a geck: to be deceived or tricked. to give one the geck: to mock, trick, deceive one.
| 1568 Satir. Poems Reform. xlvii. 84 Now better war lat bee Nor to begin to gett ȝour selffis ane geck. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 898 ibid. xlv, The first merchant he cleane forsuike, Gave him the geck, and lat him gea. 1603 Philotus lxxviii, The Carle that hecht sa weill to treit ȝow, I think sall get ane geck. ? 16.. Fair Janet & Sweet Will. xx. in Child Ballads iii. lxiv. (1885) 105/2 This day she has gien me the gecks, Yet she must bear the scorn. 1808–25 Jamieson, s.v., To gie one the geck, to give him the slip; generally including the idea of exposing him to derision. |
▪ III. geck, v. Sc. and north. dial.
(gɛk)
[app. a. LG. gecken = MDu. ghecken, DU. gekken, G. gecken: see geck n.1, and cf. the echoic Ger. gecken to croak, cackle. Also in Scand. as Da. gjække, Sw. gäcka.]
1. trans. To mock, deceive, cheat.
| 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 867 in Satir. Poems Reform. xlv, Hame to the prowest it was directit; But ye shall heir whow he was geckit. |
2. intr. to geck at: to scoff at, to use mocking language or gestures towards.
| 1603 Philotus ciii, I trow that all the warld euin Sall at ȝour guckrie geck. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. i. i, She Bauldy looes..But gecks at me, and says I smell of tar. 1775 Burns ‘Tibbie I hae seen’ i, Ye geck at me because I'm poor. 1837 R. Nicoll Poems (1843) 102 He'll geck e'en at the Minister An' joke wi' laird an' lady. 1876 Whitby Gloss., Geck, to sneer or deride. |
3. To toss the head, as in scorn; to look proudly. Also trans. to geck up the head. [Possibly a distinct word.]
| 1724 Ramsay Evergreen (1761) II. 15 Scho gecks as gif I meind her Ill. 1728 ― Fables, Caterpillar & Ant 9 The saucy Ant..gecking up her head, quoth she ‘Poor animal! I pity thee’. 1786 Burns Dream viii, Adieu, my liege! may freedom geck Beneath your high protection. 1811 Willan in Archæol. XVII. 147 Geck, to toss the head. |