Origins of "goon"

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DaveL
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Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 9:17 pm
Location: Perth

Origins of "goon"

Post by DaveL »

Maybe some one here can help settle a bet.

The coloquialism "goon". Where does it come from? What is its origin? Is it uniquely Australian?
I'm sure I recall reading of a Victorian winery called Goonawarra, is this where it comes from?

Anyway, cheers if you can help.
Dave.
Ground control to Major Tom, take your protein pills and put your helmet on.
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GraemeG
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Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 8:53 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by GraemeG »

It's been in currency at least since World War II - 'goon' is a common slang term for POW guards - refer 'The Wooden Horse'.

There are probably a heap of other, older references somewhere as well...

cheers,
Graeme
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Davo
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Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2003 8:09 pm

Post by Davo »

In what context are you using the term?

If it relates to a flagon of wine, ie a "goon" of wine, it was probably just an abbreviation of the stupid extension of the word, that is flagoon, and may or may not have any relationship to any other use of the word. Although the Goon Show was pretty popular at the time.
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DaveL
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Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 9:17 pm
Location: Perth

Post by DaveL »

I was in the context of cheap wine, plonk if you will, not the prison guards.

I must confess I have never heard of the expression "flagoon" before, but am content to be corrected.
Ground control to Major Tom, take your protein pills and put your helmet on.
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Guest

Re: Origins of "goon"

Post by Guest »

DaveL wrote:Maybe some one here can help settle a bet.

The coloquialism "goon". Where does it come from? What is its origin? Is it uniquely Australian?
I'm sure I recall reading of a Victorian winery called Goonawarra, is this where it comes from?

Anyway, cheers if you can help.
Dave.


Not Goonawarra, there is in fact a winery known as Goonararra in the Sunbury region of Victoria in an area also known as Goonawarra which I understand has Aboriginal origins.
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Guest

Re: Origins of "goon"

Post by Guest »

Anonymous wrote:
DaveL wrote:Maybe some one here can help settle a bet.

The coloquialism "goon". Where does it come from? What is its origin? Is it uniquely Australian?
I'm sure I recall reading of a Victorian winery called Goonawarra, is this where it comes from?

Anyway, cheers if you can help.
Dave.


Not Goonawarra, there is in fact a winery known as Goonararra in the Sunbury region of Victoria in an area also known as Goonawarra which I understand has Aboriginal origins.


Umm...quick, better tell this Sunbury winery that it doesn't exist then :)

http://www.goonawarra.com.au/
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