An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Geck

by Friedrich Kluge

Geck, m., ‘fool, fop, buffoon,’ orig. MidG. (and LG.), in which gëc, gëcke, m., ‘silly fellow, fool, droll fellow,’ occurs even in the MidHG. period; not allied to MidHG. giege, ‘fool,’ mentioned under gaufeln. Comp. Du. gek, m., Dan. gjœk, ‘fool,’ Ic. gikkr, ‘crafty, coarse person.’