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a clumsy, foolish, or unintelligent person
What is the origin of the term "goon" and how is it used?
"Goon" is an English slang term that appeared in the early 20th century, popularized in the 1920s–1930s by U.S. comic strips and later by criminal slang. It likely comes from the comic character "Alice the Goon" in the Popeye series, who was large, clumsy, and dim-witted, giving the word a sense of a foolish or brutish person. Over time, it also picked up associations with hired thugs or enforcers, but in general informal speech it refers to someone clumsy, silly, or unintelligent. Usage is common in casual speech, especially among young people, and is mostly mildly derogatory but not strongly offensive in everyday contexts.
a criminal hired to harm or threaten people
American
