Etymology
1. c.1400, originally Scottish, from M.Du.
kronen "to lament, mourn," perhaps onomatopoeic. Originally "to bellow like a bull" as well as "to utter a low, murmuring sound" (c.1460). Popularized by Robert Burns. Sense evolved to "lament," then to "sing softly and sadly."
Crooner, as a type of popular singer, is from 1930.
2. The verb is borrowed from Scots croon (“to utter a deep, long-drawn-out sound; to utter a lament, mourn; to sing in a wailing voice, whimper, whine; to mutter or sing in an undertone, hum”) [and other forms], from Middle English cronen (“to sing or speak softly, hum, croon”) (croyn (Scotland)) [and other forms], probably from Middle Dutch crônen, krônen (“to groan, moan; to lament”) (modern Dutch kreunen (“to moan”)), or Old High German chrônan, krônen (“to babble, prattle; to chatter”), probably from Proto-West Germanic *kraunijan, from Proto-Indo-European *gerH- (“to cry hoarsely”).
3. The noun is partly:
4. * borrowed from Scots croon (“a lament, wail; mournful song; low murmuring tune; (obsolete) long-drawn-out sound”), from croon (verb): see above; and
5. * derived from the verb.
6. Cognates
7. * Middle Dutch krônen (modern Dutch kreunen (“to groan, moan; to lament”))
8. * Middle Low German kroenen (“to babble, prattle; to chatter”), kronen (“to growl; to grumble; to scold”)
9. * Old High German chrônan, chrônnan (“to babble, prattle; to chatter”)
10. * Saterland Frisian krȫnen (“to cause to weep”) See: Dutch '
kreunen', Old High German 'chrônan', Dutch '
kreunen', Old High German 'chrônan'.
Verbs referencing "croon"
French
crooner.