Geek

A geek is slang originally for an eccentric, awkward, non-mainstream person and, in its current use, more narrowly such a person who is obsessed with a particularly hobby or intellectual pursuit. In the past, the word had a generally pejorative meaning of a "peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, boring, or socially awkward". In the 21st century, it was reclaimed and used by many people, especially members of some fandoms, as a positive term. It is largely, but not always, a synonym for nerd.

Some use the term self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride, often referring simply to "someone who is interested in a subject (usually intellectual or complex) for its own sake".

Etymology

The word comes fromgeek or geck 'fool, freak' in early 1900s American carnival slang, possibly from Middle Low German Geck. Geck is a standard term in Modern German and means 'fool; fop'. The root also survives in the Dutch and Afrikaans adjective gek 'crazy', as well as some German dialects, like the Alsatian word Gickeleshut 'jester's hat' (used during carnival). In 18th-century Austria, Gecken were freaks on display in some circuses. In 19th-century North America, the term geek referred to a performer in a geek show in a circus, traveling carnival or travelling funfair sideshows (see also freak show).