Canada lynx
- See under lynx.
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Origin of Canada lynx
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
lynx
[lingks]
- any of several wildcats of the genus Lynx (or Felis), having long limbs, a short tail, and usually tufted ears, especially L. lynx (Canada lynx), of Canada and the northern U.S., having grayish-brown fur marked with white.
- genitive Lyn·cis [lin-sis] /ˈlɪn sɪs/. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. a northern constellation between Ursa Major and Auriga.
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Origin of lynx
1300–50; Middle English < Latin < Greek lýnx
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
lynx
- a feline mammal, Felis lynx (or canadensis), of Europe and North America, with grey-brown mottled fur, tufted ears, and a short tailRelated adjective: lyncean
- the fur of this animal
- bay lynx another name for bobcat
- desert lynx another name for caracal
- Also called: Polish lynx a large fancy pigeon from Poland, with spangled or laced markings
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Word Origin
C14: via Latin from Greek lunx; related to Old English lox, German Luchs
Lynx
- a faint constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Ursa Major and Cancer
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for canada lynx
lynx
n.
mid-14c., from Latin lynx (source of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian lince), from Greek lyngz, perhaps from PIE *leuk- "light" (see light (n.)), in reference to its gleaming eyes or its ability to see in the dark.
If that men hadden eyghen of a beeste that highte lynx, so that the lokynge of folk myghte percen thurw the thynges that withstonden it. [Chaucer's "Boethius," c.1380]
Cf. Lithuanian luzzis, Old High German luhs, German luchs, Old English lox, Dutch los, Swedish lo "lynx."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper