Definition

1. Noun:
   • A raccoon: A small, nocturnal North American mammal with a distinctive black mask across its eyes and a ringed tail.
   • (Extremely offensive, ethnic slur): An extremely derogatory and offensive term for a Black person. Its use is a grave racial insult.
   • (Informal, dated): An eccentric or unsophisticated person from a rural area.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal):
  • We saw a coon rummaging through the trash cans last night.
  • The coon's tracks were visible in the mud by the stream.
• Noun (Offensive Slur):
  • ⚠️ The use of "coon" as a slur is deeply offensive and unacceptable.
• Noun (Informal, rustic person):
  • The old-timer was considered a harmless coon by the folks in town.

Advanced Usage

• "A gone coon" (Idiom, archaic/informal): A person in a hopeless situation or one who is doomed to fail.
  • With all the evidence against him, he knew he was a gone coon.

Variants and Related Words

• Raccoon (n): The full, standard, and non-offensive term for the animal.
• Coonhound (n): A type of dog bred to hunt raccoons.
• Coon's age (n, informal, dated): A very long time. (Note: This idiom is considered dated and potentially offensive by association).
  • I haven't seen him in a coon's age.

Synonyms

• For the animal: Raccoon, ringtail.
• For the offensive slur: ⚠️ [Extremely offensive synonyms are omitted. The word itself is the slur.]
• For the rustic person: Bumpkin, yokel, hillbilly (these may also carry derogatory connotations).

Important Usage Note

The term "coon" is highly problematic. Its primary non-offensive use is as a clipped, informal form of "raccoon." However, its history as a vicious racial epithet makes its use extremely dangerous and offensive. Even in its informal or idiomatic uses (e.g., "a gone coon"), it is now widely considered inappropriate due to its racist associations. It is strongly advised to use the full word "raccoon" and to avoid all other uses of this term.

Noun

1. North American raccoon
2. (ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black person
   • only a Black can call another Black a nigga
3. an eccentric or undignified rustic
   • I'll be a gone coon when the battle starts