loon
loon Lexical Profile
loon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A large, web-footed diving bird of the order Gaviiformes, native to the northern regions of North America and Eurasia, noted for its haunting, echoing cry and striking black-and-white breeding plumage.
"We sat on the dock at dusk, listening to the lonely call of a loon echoing across the quiet lake."
A silly, foolish, or highly eccentric person.
"My uncle is an absolute loon when he gets onto the dance floor at family weddings."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, the aquatic bird known as a 'loon' in North America is typically referred to as a 'diver'.
• Rhymes for loon
Word Origin & Etymology
The name for the bird derives from the Old Norse 'lómr' (moaning bird), referring to its distinctive cry. The meaning of 'eccentric person' stems from the Middle English 'loun' (rogue or lout), which was later influenced by the word 'lunatic' and the erratic-sounding call of the bird.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.