[arethuza]

For some reason this discussion sent me off to try and find the origin of "loons" and "quines" - the terms for "boys" and "girls" in the dialect of Scots English I am familiar with.

"Quine" seems to be based on "quean" but "loon" seems a mystery!

NB Referring to someone as a "loonie" is not derogatory - but just means they are a young boy :-)

[smcl]

"Loon" and "Quine" aren't even Scots English, I suspect you'd get funny looks if you used either in Edinburgh or Glasgow. Each are very much "Doric" (the dialect of Aberdeen\shire) words.

edit: I recognise your name from another post and remember that you're from Scotland so you probaby know this already :)