Etymology Proposed in 1858 by Charles Crozat Converse from that + one. Compare also dialectal English and Scots thon (“that; yon”, adjective; pronoun).
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Gender neutral, Nonstandard, Rare, Third person they (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular subject pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns he and she.
Every writer has "thons" verbal likes and dislikes, yet, for the sake of convenience, I trust that even "thon" who dislikes verbal innovations will give my little word a little trial and note for me the result.1889 November, C. Crozat Converse, “That Desired Impersonal Pronoun”, in The Writer, volume 3, number 2, Boston: William H. Hills, page 248:
Every student should acquaint thonself with some method by which thon can positively correlate the facts of thons knowledge.1895, Henry Graham Williams, Outlines of Psychology, 3rd edition, Syracuse: C. W. Bardee, →OL, LCC BF141.W12, page 5:
2 more examples
In everi individɥɑl then, ɑr thε elεments ɑut ɵv hwich everi sol haz pɑuer tu ɛlaborɞt ʊntu thonself hwɵtever cɵndishʊn thon dɛzɩrz — tu mɞc fɷr thonself heven ɷr hel, hwichever thon iz wiliŋ tu strɩv fɷr.1907 August, C. W. Larisunz, “Thε Sol:—Hwens?—Hwither?”, in Thε Jurnɑl ɵv ɷrthɵεpi & ɷrthɵgrɑfi, volume 24, number 8, page 153:
Maybe I don't speak for the average American, but I very much doubt that thon wants that word in thons language or that thon would use it thonself.1985, William Knowlton Zinsser, On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction, 3rd edition, New York: Harper & Row, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC PE1429.Z5 1985, page 121:
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Gender neutral, Nonstandard, Rare, Third person them (singular). Gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, coordinate with gendered pronouns him and her.
If Mr. or Mrs. A. comes to the courthouse on Monday next I will be there to meet thon.1884 July 23, C. C. Converse, “A New Pronoun”, in The Critic and Good Literature, number 31, New York, published 2 August 1884, page 55:
I send my files to Dinsmore with a cutting note too subtle for thon to understand (thon is an imbecile, regardless of thon’s protected status).2020, Charlie Kaufman, Antkind, →ISBN, page 102:
Etymology Alteration of yon due to the influence of this and that.
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Yon.
“Whatever are ye lookin' at, Neil?” his mother demanded, looking up from fastening her favorite garnet brooch. “That's the third time ye've had a peek out thon window.” “Not a thing, Mam,” he said, inhaling deeply. “Only taking pleasure in the day. Such beautiful weather, is it not?” Mrs. Forbes sniffed, but obligingly settled her spectacles on[…]2010 December 17, Diana Gabaldon, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Anchor Canada, →ISBN:
“But”—he spoke in a tone that made Magnus feel like a lad of twelve—“look in the shadows of thon window embrasure and tell me what you see.” Magnus bit back a curse and followed the older man's gaze. “I see Maili, the smithy's daughter.”2011 January 4, Allie Mackay, Must Love Kilts, Penguin, →ISBN: