noun

mooning

Mooning (noun) means the act of exposing one's bare buttocks, usually as a prank, insult, or protest. Example: “The mooning got the whole group banned from the stadium.”

noun

The act of exposing one's bare buttocks, usually as a prank, insult, or protest.

"The mooning got the whole group banned from the stadium."

How to use mooning

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishShowing your bare bottom as a joke, insult, or dare.

When to use it

Informal and often used humorously; can also describe a punishable public-indecency offence.

Word forms

moonings plural

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The _____ got the whole group banned from the stadium.

Etymology

From the use of "moon" as slang for the buttocks, a usage traced back to the 1700s and popularised by American student slang in the 1960s.

· First attested 1700

Class of 1700 mooning joined the language around 1700.

ache argh battleship bootleg Boswell

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Rhymes for mooning

honing zoning boning ironing stoning droning phoning cloning spooning reckoning seasoning poisoning

See all rhymes for mooning →

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of mooning?

"mooning" (noun) means the act of exposing one's bare buttocks, usually as a prank, insult, or protest.

How do you use mooning in a sentence?

Example: "The mooning got the whole group banned from the stadium."