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Origins of "goon"
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:35 pm
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.
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 2:28 pm
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
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 4:07 pm
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.
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 4:28 pm
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.
Re: Origins of "goon"
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:10 pm
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.
Re: Origins of "goon"
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:36 pm
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/