1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 40. From that moment he was gone beaver; he felt queer, he said, all over.
1857. Notes and Queries, 2 S. iii., 519. To call a person a gone corbie, is only to say in other words, it’s all up with him.
1862. Clough, Poems. He had been into the schools; plucked almost; all but a gone-coon.
1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, I., 178. I shall meet her again next week; will you come? Any friend of mine is welcome. Wish me joy, old fellow; I’m a gone coon.
Gone on, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Enamoured of; infatuated with; mashed on (q.v.); sweet on (q.v.). Generally in contempt. Fr., aimer comme ses petits boyaux. For synonyms, see Sweet on.
1887. John Strange Winter, That Imp, p. 44. He was a fine fellow, and no mistake. And was gone on Lady Lorrimor!
1890. Illustrated Bits, 29 Mar. p. 10, c. 3. He must have been terribly gone on this woman.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 113. ‘Poor chap, he’s very far gone,’ thought Jack.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 31. I’ll eat my old boots if she isn’t dead gone on.
Goner, (or Gones, Gonus, or Goney), subs. (American).—1. A fool; a simpleton. Also Gauney (q.v.). For synonyms, see Buffle or Cabbage-head.