loony1

[loo-nee] /ˈlu ni/
adjective, loonier, looniest.
1.
lunatic; insane.
2.
extremely or senselessly foolish.
noun, plural loonies.
3.
a lunatic.
Also, looney, luny.
Origin
1860-65; lun(atic) + -y2
Related forms
looniness, noun

loony2

[loo-nee] /ˈlu ni/
noun, plural loonies.
1.
loonie.
Examples from the web for loony
  • It turns out that he wasn't killed after all but was captured and sent to the loony bin.
  • In the end, the editor drives a wagon from the local loony bin into the ceremony and kidnaps her.
  • Mel's search for his birth parents is nominally what sets this enchantingly loony comedy in motion.
  • It delightfully takes its loony scenario for granted.
  • He makes the viewer buy this film's loony premise, and buy it with a smile.
  • No opinion or theory no matter how loony should be proscribed.
  • They festooned the machine with all sorts of loony filigrees.
  • Its where you trade and use diplomacy instead of violence and loony big spending.
  • All these characters are more or less loony, and so is the action, which occurs in the midst of a horrendous northeaster.
  • No screenwriter could possibly gin up a scenario this delightfully loony, and if one did, no one would believe it.
British Dictionary definitions for loony

loony

/ˈluːnɪ/
adjective loonier, looniest, lunier, luniest
1.
lunatic; insane
2.
foolish or ridiculous
noun (pl) loonies, looneys, lunies
3.
a foolish or insane person
Derived Forms
looniness, luniness, noun
Word Origin and History for loony
adj.

also loonie, looney, 1853, American English, short for lunatic, but also influenced by loon (n.2) and perhaps loon (n.1), the bird being noted for its wild cry and method of escaping from danger. As a noun by 1884, from the adjective. Slang loony bin "insane asylum" is from 1919. Looney left in reference to holders of political views felt to be left-wing in the extreme is from 1977. Looney Tunes, Warner Bros. studios' animated cartoon series, dates from 1930.

Slang definitions & phrases for loony

loony

adjective

Crazy; nutty: You looney punk/ ''I think, sir, he's a little luny,'' replied Ginger Nut, with a grin (1853+)

noun

(also loon or loonball): the inspired looney who hated killing/ would have shown up in a Mel Brooks epic had that loonball thought of it first (1884+)

[probably fr both lunatic and crazy as a loon (found by 1845)]