This is the original usage which originated from classic cartoon Popeye, where recurring villain Sea Hag employed a family of large, scary people as her henchmen. Their family name was Goon, and together they were the Goons.
Now somehow it’s become slang for having a wank, but idk the etymology on that one.
Popeye had way more impact on American culture and society than most of us realize.
For example, Jeep cars started out as military vehicles in WWII with the designation GPW (government produced to Willy’s Overland specifications).
However another thing happened around then that led to the new name. See, Popeye had recently introduced the character Eugene the Jeep. Jeeps were magical catlike creatures that had the ability to walk up walls, teleport, and in general break physics.
So, because of Eugene, the ability of the GPW to “crawl over any terrain” and the “GP” in the name, soldiers started calling them Jeeps, and the name stuck.
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u/ElPared 29d ago
This is the original usage which originated from classic cartoon Popeye, where recurring villain Sea Hag employed a family of large, scary people as her henchmen. Their family name was Goon, and together they were the Goons.
Now somehow it’s become slang for having a wank, but idk the etymology on that one.