loon Hear it!

loon¹ Definition

loon (lo̵̅o̅n)

noun

any of an order (Gaviiformes) of fish-eating, diving birds, with a sharp bill and webbed feet, found mainly in subarctic regions: noted for its weird cry

Etymology: altered (by assoc. with loon) < earlier loom < ON lomr < IE echoic base *lā- > L latrare, to bark

loon² Definition

loon (lo̵̅o̅n)

noun

  1. a clumsy, stupid person
  2. a crazy person
  3. Scot.
    1. a boy
    2. a harlot
  4. Archaic
    1. a person of low rank
    2. a rogue

Etymology: Scot lown, loun < ME lowen < ? or akin to MDu loen

loon Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: But then, the fledgling station had a local loon at its helm.
  • grin: Uncle Malcolm and the four grinning loons he calls his sons will only ever make any money if United has a successful team.
  • gibber: Or, of course, he's just a gibbering loon.

Adjective modifier

  • swivel-eyed: If these swivel-eyed loons want us to treat them seriously, they'll have to treat us seriously.
  • common: Common loon Gavia emmer 25/4: 8 in breeding plumage at Quail Creek; 1/5: 4 in various plumage, Morro Bay.
  • crazed: The live performance of Rudebox was fantastic and so energetic that you couldn't help but dance along to it like a crazed loon!
  • wild-eyed: Again, everyone remembers him as the wild-eyed loon, but there has often been a compassion to his work.
  • complete: Meanwhile, Mitchell the psychic is giving the parents of the missing girl further reason for thinking they've hired a complete loon.
  • young: As a young loon I was fortunate to travel many times on these spur lines.

Modifies a noun

  • pant: There was mair flair in Jock's auld loon pants ( the ones he allegedly wore with the Afghan coat )!
loon Quotes

For I have a song to sing,O!† It is sung to the moon By a love-lorn loon, Who fled from the mocking throng,O! It's the song of a merryman moping mum, Whose soul was sad and whose glance was glum Who sipped no sup and who craved no crumb, As he sighed for the love of a ladye!

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)