# loon

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈluːn/ · frequency rank #29,351

## Definitions
1. A crazy or deranged person; a lunatic.
2. An idler, a lout.
3. A boy, a lad.
4. A harlot; mistress.
5. A simpleton.
6. An English soldier of an expeditionary army in Ireland.
7. A round area of pavement that protrudes from one side of a road to accommodate turning vehicles with a wide turning circle.
8. Clipping of balloon.

## Etymology
From Middle English louen, lowen (“rascal; rogue”), probably of Middle Dutch or Middle Low German origin. Compare Dutch loen (“simpleton”). Or, related to etymology 2, due to the bird's loud cry. Folk etymology associates it slang-wise with lunatic, though the latter may have influenced it; see loony.

## Easily confused with
- **lot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lot)
- **low** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-low)
- **los** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-los)
- **Lou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lou)
- **lyn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lyn)
- **Luo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-luo)
- **lor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lor)
- **lop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lop)
- **lun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lun)
- **lox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lox)
- **loy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-loy)
- **love** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-love)
- **lost** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lost)
- **lord** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lord)
- **lose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lose)
- **loss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-loss)
- **lots** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lots)
- **loud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-loud)
- **loop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-loop)
- **Lynn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loon-vs-lynn)

## Common misspellings (4)
`lloon`, `lono`, `loonn`, `olon`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/loon