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

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

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

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

See loon in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Any of several fish-eating, diving birds of the genus Gavia of northern regions, having a short tail, webbed feet, and a laughlike cry.

Origin:

Origin: Perhaps alteration of dialectal loom, guillemot, diver

Origin: , from Old Norse lōmr

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noun
Informal
One who is crazy or deranged.

Origin:

Origin: Probably from loon1 (from its loud cry)

Origin: and influenced by lunatic

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