goon

[ goon ]

noun

1. Informal. a hired hoodlum or thug.
2. Slang.
   1. a stupid, foolish, or awkward person.
   2. a rough, coarse person; roughneck.

goon

¹

noun

1. informal.
   cheap wine packaged in casks or boxed

goon

²

/ ɡuːn /

noun

1. a stupid or deliberately foolish person
2. informal.
   a thug hired to commit acts of violence or intimidation, esp in an industrial dispute

Word History and Origins

Origin of goon¹

First recorded in 1920–25; shortened from dialectal gooney, variant of obsolete gony “a simpleton” (of unknown origin); influenced by the comic-strip character Alice the Goon in the series Thimble Theatre by E. C. Segar (1894–1938), American cartoonist

Word History and Origins

Origin of goon¹

C20: partly from dialect gooney fool, partly after the character Alice the Goon, created by E. C. Segar (1894–1938), American cartoonist

Example Sentences

Think of it as the Jersey Shore exception, where you can act like a brutish goon and the first bust is essentially a do-over.

From The Daily Beast

Penguin India wet itself, and entered into an agreement with this semi-literate goon.

From The Daily Beast

In the original Danish show, Forbrydelsen, the cop was a typical hotheaded macho goon, all guns and glory and ego.

From The Daily Beast

The Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist of A Visit From the Goon Squad explains each pick.

From The Daily Beast

[Laughs] I had auditioned for Biff, and everyone they liked as a runner-up became [his goon squad].

From The Daily Beast

Dutifully Lamb's goon turned and retraced his steps to the curb, holding his four-square hat carefully.

From Project Gutenberg

Louis the Goon practically demanded, invited, the use of a .45 automatic on him.

From Project Gutenberg

Louis the Goon Engel was a mere walk-on in the piece, a spear-carrier doomed to death.

From Project Gutenberg

Louis the Goon went along, looking neither to right nor left, docilely intent on minding his own business.

From Project Gutenberg

Louis the Goon came down and scooted out the side entrance in a hurry.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hooligan
• thug