goon

nounruffian

Word Origin & History

1921, "stupid person," from gony "simpleton" (1580s), of unknown origin, but applied by sailors to the albatross and similar big, clumsy birds (1839); sense of "hired thug" first recorded 1938 (in reference to union "beef squads" used to cow strikers in the Pacific northwest), probably from Alice the Goon, slow-witted and muscular (but gentle-natured) character in "Thimble Theater" comic strip (starring Popeye) by E.C. Segar (1894-1938). She also was the inspiration for British comedian Spike Milligan's "The Goon Show." What are now "juvenile delinquents" were in the 1940s sometimes called goonlets.

Example Sentences for goon

Finally I sent a goon squad after him and dragged him to my office.

It could, perhaps, send Dalgetty a few men but it had no goon squads.

At 42nd Street, Louis the Goon got off and trundled over to the shuttle.

There was no way of finding what office Louis the Goon had visited.

They were almost at Louis the Goon's roost when Lamb saw how he was going to do it.

He could ...

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Synonyms for goon

noun ruffian

Antonyms for goon

brain

goon

Synonyms for goon

Antonyms for goon

More words related to goon

Philistine

assailant

boob

boor

boors

dolt

goon

Synonyms for goon

Antonyms for goon

More words related to goon

.css-b3ywll{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Philistine

assailant

boob

boor

boors

dolt

Philistine