loon

[ loon ]

/ lun /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loon ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of several large, short-tailed, web-footed, fish-eating diving birds of the genus Gavia, of the Northern Hemisphere.

Nearby words

Origin of loon

First recorded in 1625–35; perhaps alteration of loom³

Definition for loon (2 of 2)

loon

[ loon ]

/ lun /

noun

a crazy or simple-minded person.

Origin of loon

1400–50; late Middle English lowen, perhaps < Old Norse lūinn worn, tired; later influenced by loon¹ and loony¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for loon

That loon is known as “Dr. Who,” and his nerdy fans are legion.
The Perfect Book for Every Man in Your Life|Liesl Schillinger|December 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There was Sen. Claire McCaskill, fresh after dispatching Tea Party loon Todd Akin, on Meet the Press.
On the Fiscal Cliff, Republicans Got Nothin’|Daniel Gross|December 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Sticking with six brackets is supposedly meant to signal that he believes in a little stability and is not a loon.
Michael Tomasky on Mitt Romney’s Tax-Plan Flim-Flam|Michael Tomasky|February 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As the loon brigades proved as they berated Precious, our humanity is the enemy of ideologues.
David Mills' Gift to Television|Stanley Crouch|April 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Next thing you know that loon Glenn Beck will have a hit TV show.
Obama's Tough Love for Detroit|Paul Kedrosky|March 31, 2009|DAILY BEAST
You hear the loon crying on the water, or the last whistle of the heron up the pass.
Romany of the Snows|Gilbert Parker
The Indian came from the tribe on Loon Lake, and some of his fellows up there are sick with the same thing.
The Law of the North (Originally published as Empery)|Samuel Alexander White
Lisle filled his pipe and smoked in silence for several minutes during which the eery cry of a loon rang 38 about the camp.
The Long Portage|Harold Bindloss
Loon, Pleasant and Bixby's Lakes were all dammed and located upon for the water company.
The Lake of the Sky|George Wharton James
But a loon flapped up from the rushes, brushing the priest's face with its wings.
Lords of the North|A. C. Laut

British Dictionary definitions for loon (1 of 2)

loon

/ (luːn) /

noun

the US and Canadian name for diver (def. 3)

Word Origin for loon

C17: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse lōmr

British Dictionary definitions for loon (2 of 2)

loon

/ (luːn) /

noun

informal a simple-minded or stupid person

Northeast Scot dialect a lad

archaic a person of low rank or occupation (esp in the phrase lord and loon)

Word Origin for loon

C15: origin obscure

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for loon (1 of 2)

loon

n.1

large diving bird (especially the Great Northern Diver), 1630s, from a Scandinavian source (cf. Norwegian lom, from Old Norse lomr).

Word Origin and History for loon (1 of 2)

loon

n.2

"crazy person," mid-15c., lowen "rascal," of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Dutch loen "stupid person."

loon

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of loon

Definition for loon (2 of 2)

loon

noun

Origin of loon

Examples from the Web for loon

British Dictionary definitions for loon (1 of 2)

loon

noun

Word Origin for loon

British Dictionary definitions for loon (2 of 2)

loon

noun

Word Origin for loon

Word Origin and History for loon (1 of 2)

loon

Word Origin and History for loon (1 of 2)

loon