late 14c., gasen, gazen, "to stare, look steadily and intently," probably of Scandinavian origin (compare Norwegian, Swedish dialectal gasa "to gape"), perhaps related somehow to Old Norse ga "heed" (see gawk). Related: Gazed; gazing; gazer; gazee; gazeful; gazement.

1540s, "thing stared at;" 1560s as "long look," from gaze, v.. Gaze-hound (1560s) was an old name for a dog that follows prey by sight, not scent.