Etymology: Probably < egede adj. (although this is first attested later); see discussion at that entry.

Etymology: Probably the reflex of an unattested Old English compound < e- prefix¹ + a second element of uncertain origin (perhaps Old English gād , gǣd lack, want, or gād goad n.¹: see discussion below) + Old English -e , suffix forming adjectives. Compare earlier egede n.Old English gād , gǣd lack, want, is cognate with Old Frisian gād need, Old Saxon -gēd- (in metigēd(e)ono (genitive plural) lack of food, famine), Gothic gaidw lack, probably < a suffixed form of the same Indo-European base as go v.; if this is the etymon, then e- prefix¹ is probably being used with intensive force, the presumed sense development being ‘very lacking, lacking in everything’ to ‘empty, barren, unproductive’ to ‘vain, frivolous, foolish’. If, on the other hand, Old English gād goad n.¹ is the etymon, then e- prefix¹ is being used with privative force, the presumed sense development being ‘ungoaded, unforced’ to ‘doing nothing, unoccupied, idle’ to ‘vain, frivolous, foolish’. Neither of these sense developments is entirely convincing; however, no more likely derivation has been suggested. A connection with giddy adj. is semantically attractive, but presents phonological problems.