ˈgau̇ noun
( plural gaus -au̇z ; or gaue -au̇ə)
Etymology: German, from Old High German gouw-, gewi district, region; akin to Old English -gē district, region (in place names), Old Frisian gā, Old Saxon -gō (in place names), Gothic gawi; all probably from a prehistoric West Germanic-East Germanic compound whose components are represented respectively by Old High German gi- (perfective and collective prefix) and ouwa land by water, meadow — more at yclept , island
1. : a region or district in German tribal organization including two or more marks and inhabited by kindred tribes
2. : one of the 20 party districts into which Germany including Austria was divided by the National Socialists