1848. A body what never seed a opery before would swar they was evry one either drunk or crazy as loons, if they was to see ’em in one of ther grand lung-tearin, ear-bustin blowouts.—W. T. Thompson, ‘Major Jones’s Sketches of Travel,’ p. 102 (Phila.).
1854. The old man ’ll run as crazy as a loon a-thinkin’ ’bout his household affairs.—H. H. Riley, ‘Puddleford,’ p. 140 (N.Y.).
