loon

¹

[ loon ]

noun

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

loon

²

[ loon ]

noun

1. a crazy or simple-minded person.

loon

¹

/ luːn /

noun

1. the US and Canadian name for diver

loon

²

/ luːn /

noun

1. informal.
   a simple-minded or stupid person
2. dialect.
   a lad
3. archaic.
   a person of low rank or occupation (esp in the phrase lord and loon )

Word History and Origins

Origin of loon¹

First recorded in 1625–35; perhaps alteration of loom ³

Origin of loon²

1400–50; late Middle English lowen, perhaps < Old Norse lūinn worn, tired; later influenced by loon ¹ and loony ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of loon¹

C17: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse lōmr

Origin of loon²

C15: origin obscure

Example Sentences

How a group of strangers came together to rescue a loon on a Virginia lake

From Washington Post

What makes this loon’s travel loony, birding experts said, is that it stopped at a spot of water that was so far inland — then stayed for several weeks.

From Washington Post

A lonely loon landed last month on a small suburban Virginia pond in a residential neighborhood, then it got stranded.

From Washington Post

What makes this loon’s travels loony, said birding experts, is that it hasn’t just taken a quick pit stop at the lake in suburbia but has stayed for more than a week.

From Washington Post

Emily Johnson, who lives in Fairfax County, was among the first to spot the loon at the pond one afternoon when she and her fiance were walking their dog.

From Washington Post

That loon is known as “Dr. Who,” and his nerdy fans are legion.

From The Daily Beast

There was Sen. Claire McCaskill, fresh after dispatching Tea Party loon Todd Akin, on Meet the Press.

From The Daily Beast

That this disheveled loon is played by Paul Rudd—with great conviction—is a bit of a shocker.

From The Daily Beast

Sticking with six brackets is supposedly meant to signal that he believes in a little stability and is not a loon.

From The Daily Beast

As the loon brigades proved as they berated Precious, our humanity is the enemy of ideologues.

From The Daily Beast

He came home late last night; his father heard a noise in his room and went in to find him as crazy as a loon.

From Project Gutenberg

"We made you our King because you have less common sense than the rest of us," answered Panta Loon, indignantly.

From Project Gutenberg

One or two ran away and presently returned, followed by a lady Loon wearing huge, puffed-up rubber skirts.

From Project Gutenberg

The lady Loon picked up the bunch of skin and examined it carefully until she discovered a hole in one foot.

From Project Gutenberg

Til Loon was one of those who ran against his thorn and many others suffered the same fate.

From Project Gutenberg