loon
UK[luːn]US[luːn]
n
A large diving waterbird with a sleek black-and-white head and a haunting, laughing call.
n
A foolish or crazy person.
Etymology
The word 'loon' for the bird originates from the Old Norse 'lómr', likely imitative of the bird's mournful, wailing cry. This onomatopoeic origin connects the sound of the word directly to the creature's distinctive vocalization. The meaning of "crazy person" developed later, in the late 16th century, derived from the Middle English 'loun' meaning 'rascal' or 'rogue', and was likely influenced by the bird's perceived strange, wild behavior and eerie call. The two distinct modern meanings thus stem from two separate but phonetically convergent historical sources.
Analysis
The word 'loon' is a simplex word of Scandinavian origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The lonely call of a loon echoed across the still lake at dusk.
He felt like a complete loon for trying to fix the plumbing himself.
We spent the morning in a canoe, hoping to spot a common loon.