loon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A crazy or deranged person; a lunatic.

   An electric fire came next, followed by an umbrella and then a colander. "This bowl will carry no water," he muttered. "Some loon hath pierced it with holes.".

2. 2
   noun

   An idler, a lout.

   The diuell damne thee blacke, thou cream-fac'd Loone: Where got'ſt thou that Gooſe-looke.

3. 3
   noun

   Any of various birds, of the order Gaviiformes, of North America and Europe that dive for fish and have a short tail, webbed feet and a yodeling cry.

   The Loone is an ill ſhap'd thing like a Cormorant; but that he can neyther goe nor flye; he maketh a noiſe ſometimes like a Sovvgelders horne.

4. 4
   noun

   large somewhat primitive fish-eating diving bird of the northern hemisphere having webbed feet placed far back

Of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse lómr (“loon”), ultimately imitative of the bird's cry, particularly when it's in danger. Distantly related to lament, probably sharing Proto-Indo-European *leh₂- (expressive root).

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