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loon

1
[ loon ]
/ lun /
SEE 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.

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characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.
carried on abroad, or with other countries.
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Origin of loon

1
First recorded in 1625–35; perhaps alteration of loom3

Words nearby loon

loom, loo mask, looming, loom large, loom-state, loon, looney, loonie, loony, loony bin, loony tunes

Definition for loon (2 of 2)

loon2
[ loon ]
/ lun /

noun

a crazy or simple-minded person.

Origin of loon

2
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. 2020

Words related to loon

crazy, lunatic, maniac, eccentric, nut, psychopath, sociopath, nut case

Example sentences from the Web for loon

British Dictionary definitions for loon (1 of 2)

loon1
/ (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)

loon2
/ (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