Staring at something or someone with an open mouth, usually in surprise or admiration, often in a rude way.
From Middle English 'gawken' possibly from Scandinavian 'gaukr' meaning cuckoo or fool. The meaning 'to stare stupidly' developed in the 1400s, with the modern sense of rude staring by the 1600s.
Gawking is actually a sign that something has 'captured' your attention so completely that your brain forgets to control your expression—it's a moment when your face reveals what your brain is focusing on!
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