To gawp is to stare stupidly at something. Gawp at the wreck, stand and gawp, stop gawping.
It is British, informal and always disapproving — you gawp at what is none of your business, which is why it attaches to crowds at accidents. Gawk is the American equivalent. The word is a variant of gape and describes the open mouth.
1verbgawpTo stare stupidly at something.
“Drivers slowed down to gawp at the crash on the other side of the motorway.”
gawp is a staring.
Also accepted in games: gawk
A variant of gape, from Old Norse gapa, to open the mouth wide.
Variation of gape.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA