/goohn/ , n.
1. Informal. a hired hoodlum or thug.
2. Slang.
a. a stupid, foolish, or awkward person.
b. a roughneck.
[ 1920-25; shortened from dial. gooney, var. of obs. gony a simpleton ( Goon in the series Thimble Theatre by E. C. Segar (1894-1938), American cartoonist ]