Etymology Map
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Geek

3 stages from Low German to English.

Today it means an enthusiast of a specialised subject, especially computing

Where does the word "geek" come from? It comes from Low German gek, passing through English before entering English (1910s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
gek
Low German · 1500s
"fool"
'fool, madman'; Dutch gek still means 'crazy'
2
Stage 2 of 3
geck
English · 1500s
"dupe, fool"
Shakespeare's Malvolio complains of being made 'the most notorious geck and gull' in Twelfth Night (1601)
3
Stage 3 of 3
geek
American English · 1910s
"sideshow freak; tech enthusiast"
a carnival performer who bit the heads off live chickens; from the 1980s, a technology enthusiast
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Read the full story

Geek’s story begins in Low German: gek meant “fool.” 'fool, madman'; Dutch gek still means 'crazy'. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in English as geck. Shakespeare's Malvolio complains of being made 'the most notorious geck and gull' in Twelfth Night (1601). It reached English by 1910s as geek. A carnival performer who bit the heads off live chickens; from the 1980s, a technology enthusiast. Today, geek means an enthusiast of a specialised subject, especially computing.