Loony Comes From the Moon, and So Does Lunatic
Loony means mad, in dated informal English. Both it and lunatic rest on the belief that the moon caused madness.
Loony means mad or foolish, in dated and now offensive informal English. It is a shortening of *lunatic*, from Latin *luna*, the moon, because madness was believed to come and go with the lunar cycle. English law used *lunatic* as a formal legal term into the twentieth century, and the Lunacy Act was only repealed in 1959. Studies have found no reliable link between the moon's phase and human behaviour.
- Mad (dated, offensive). *A loony idea.*
- Lunatic — the full word. *A lunatic.*
- Lunar — of the moon. *A lunar month.*
- Loonie — the Canadian dollar coin. *A loonie.*
- Latin — *luna*, the moon. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | loony | A loony scheme. |
| Noun | loony | A loony. |
| Full form | lunatic | Lunatic. |
| Adjective | lunar | Lunar eclipse. |
| Latin | luna | Moon. |
- The word is now considered offensive.Usage warning.
- Lunatic was a legal term until 1959.Law.
- The loonie is Canada's dollar coin.A different word.
The luna family
- Lunatic — moon-struck, once a legal category
- Lunar — of the moon
- Lunacy — the abstract noun, also once legal
- Lunation — the interval between new moons
- Loonie — Canadian slang, from the loon bird on the coin, unrelated
A shortening of *lunatic*, from Late Latin *lunaticus*, moon-struck, from *luna*, the moon.
Does the moon affect behaviour?
Studies have found no reliable link between lunar phase and human behaviour, despite the persistence of the belief.
Is the Canadian loonie related?
No. That name comes from the loon, a waterbird pictured on the coin.