spooney
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A weak-minded and foolish person, effeminate or fond; "to be SPOONEY on a girl," to be foolishly attached to one.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “spooney” mean?
A weak-minded and foolish person, effeminate or fond; "to be SPOONEY on a girl," to be foolishly attached to one.
Is “spooney” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.