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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.