gape / gāp/ • v. [intr.] stare with one's mouth open wide, typically in amazement or wonder: they gaped at her as if she were an alien. ∎  be or become wide open: a large duffel bag gaped open by her feet | [as adj.] (gaping) there was a gaping hole in the wall. • n. a wide opening or breach: a gape of the jaws. ∎  an open-mouthed stare: she climbed into her sports car to the gapes of passersby. ∎  a widely open mouth or beak: juvenile birds with yellow gapes. ∎  (the gapes) a disease of birds with gaping of the mouth as a symptom, caused by infestation with gapeworm.DERIVATIVES: gap·ing·ly adv.

gape In animals, the mouth opening between upper and lower mandibles.

gape XIII. — ON gapa = (M)Du. gapen. (M)HG. gaffen; in OE. repr. only by ofergapian neglect; further relations uncert.
Hence sb. XVI.