geck

plural gecks

1. archaiccountablederogatorypoeticuncountableFool; idiot; imbecile.

   To become the geck and scorn / O' the other's villainy.

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]

   1 more example

   … for where’s the use of a woman having brains of her own if she’s tackled to a geck as everybody’s a-laughing at?

   1859, George Eliot, “IX Hetty's World”, in Adam Bede, HTML edition, published 2010, archived from the original on 05 Apr 2012

present singular third person gecks · participle present gecking · participle past gecked · past gecked

1. Northern EnglandScotlandambitransitiveTo jeer or mock; to show contempt for.

   And Jenny geck'd at Roger, […]

   1815, Robert Tannahill, Poems and Songs, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, page 59

   4 more examples

   To say that ye was geck'd ye'se hae nae need.

   1812 [1768?], Ross Alexander, Helenore : or the fortunate shepherdess, a pastoral tale, page 92

   I brought her frae England, and, during our whole journey, she gecked and scorned at my northern speech and habit

   1816, [Walter Scott], The Antiquary. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC

   She ... gecks at me , and says I smell o' tar.

   1828, Allan Ramsay, The Gentle Shepherd: A Pastoral Comedy. With Notes, and an Original Memoir of the Author, page 21

   Oh, geck na' at hame hodden grey, Jean Linn! Oh, geck na' at hame hodden grey!

   1893, Robert Ford, The Harp of Perthshire: A Collection of Songs, Ballads, and Other Poetical Pieces Chiefly by Local Authors, page 163

2. To toss (one's head) scornfully; to look (at) derisively or disdainfully.

   Out-throw the rest my aunty gecket, / To see which way she was dissecket;

   1801, William Beattie, Fruits of Time Parings: Being a Small Collection of Original Poems, Scotch and English: Composed to Fill Up a Few of the Author's Blank Hours - and Respectfully Offered to the Public, page 9

   4 more examples

   ... The like o ' me they'll har'ly own , But geck their head , an ' gester on , An ' fou'd they speak , Set up their beek . They wi ' a jeer , or crabit frown , But yet the day or lang may light , Whan matters will be judged right ; We've[…]

   1793, Thomas Scott (of Paisley.), Poems, with Edwin and Catherine, or The distressed lovers, a tragedy, page 339

   ... he was saying that to geck you're free, If now he sings upon the primrose […]

   1806, John Black, The Falls of Clyde: Or, The Fairies; a Scotish Dramatic Pastoral, in Five Acts. With Three Preliminary Dissertations, page 135

   ... Adieu , my Liege ! may Freedom geck Beneath your high protection;[…]

   1878, Robert Burns, The poetical works of Robert Burns, ed. by C. Kent, page 124

   ... it set oor auld gossips a-geckin' Whan' the news o't cam' hame to auld Robbie Macmeeken.

   1880, James E. Watt, Poetical Sketches of Scottish Life and Character, page 34

plural Gecks

1. A surname from German.