Forms: 4–5 lenx, 4–7 linx, 6–8 lynce, 6–7 lince, 4– lynx. [a. L. lynx, lync-em (Sp., Pg., It. lince), a. Gr. λύγξ (genit. λυγκός), cogn. w. Lith. luszi-s, OHG. luhs (mod.G. luchs), OE. lox, Du. los, Sw. lo. Prob. related to Gr. λεύσσειν to see, the animal being named from its quickness of sight.]
1. An animal of any of several species of the genus Felis forming the sub-genus Lynx, having a tuft at the tip of the ear, usually a short tail, and the fur more or less spotted. The lynx of the ancients is the CARACAL.
With qualifying words, as Banded Lynx L. fasciata, Bay Lynx L. rufa, Booted Lynx L. caligata, Canada Lynx = LOUP CERVIER.
1340, c. 1375. [see b].
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3573. Lebards, lesards & lenxis.
1555. Eden, Decades, 231. They keepe in theyr pallacces the beste cauled Linx, being fayrer then a lyon.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XIII. 96. The torne-vp fare Of Lynces, Wolues, and Leopards; as neuer borne to warre.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 415. I pass the Wars that spotted Linx’s make With their fierce Rivals, for the Female’s sake.
1781. Pennant, Quadrupeds, I. Pl. XXXII. Bay Lynx. Persian Lynx. Ibid., I. 281. Caspian Lynx.
1790. Bewick, Hist. Quadrupeds (1824), 236. A variety is found in the inner parts of the province of New York, which is called the Bay Lynx,… its general colour is a bright bay, obscurely marked with dusky spots.
1829. J. Richardson, Fauna Boreali-Amer., I. 101. Felis Canadensis Canada Lynx. Ibid., I. 104. Felis fasciata Banded Lynx.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 219/2. The Booted Lynx,… sole and posterior part of the foot … deep black.
1855. Longf., Hiaw., XV. 95. A pouch of healing, Skin of beaver, lynx, or otter, filled with magic roots.
1855. Browning, An Epistle, 29. A black lynx snarled and pricked a tufted ear.
b. With allusion to its keenness of sight.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 576. A best þat men Lynx calles, Þat may se thurgh thik stane walles.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxi. (Eugenia), 509. Wes neuir lenx þat schuttis fyre, mare fulfillit of breth & yre.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., clv. The percyng lynx; the lufar vnicorne.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 38 b. Vigilantly to forsee with Lincis iyes.
1598. Barckley, Felic. Man (1631), 670. In earthly things we have Lynces eyes; but in spirituell things we are blind as beetles.
1685. Gracian’s Courtier’s Orac., 189. It concerns them much to be … sharp-sighted Linxes, that they may dive in truth, and discern falshood.
1818. Keats, Endym., I. 123. And now, as deep into the wood as we Might mark a lynx’s eye, there glimmered light.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVII. v. (1872), VII. 50. Half of the Prussian Force, lie, vigilant as lynxes, blockading here.
2. The fur of the lynx.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 221/2. The European and northern Asiatic Lynxes and the Canadian Lynx produce the great supply of furs known by the furriers under the name of lynx.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 21 Sept., 3/2. Lynx one sees about in many of the furriers’.
3. One of the northern constellations.
[1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Constellation.]
1798. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), II. 548/1.
1868. Lockyer, Guillemin’s Heavens (ed. 3), 321. The Giraffe and the Lynx, all the stars in which constellations are at most of the fourth magnitude.
4. attrib. and Comb.: lynx-eye, in quots. fig., an eye as keen as that of a lynx; so lynx-eyed a., (of persons) having eyes like those of a lynx; keen-sighted; lynx-like a., resembling a lynx; (of the eye, etc.) resembling that of a lynx; keen; (of actions, qualities, etc.) keen-sighted; lynx-sharp a., sharp as that of a lynx.
1828. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 199. His *lynx-eye discerns the true relations of the world and human life.
1880. C. R. Markham, Peruv. Bark, xvi. 166. Martinez,… to great experience in woodcraft, added a lynx eye for a Calisaya plant.
1597. J. King, On Jonas (1618), 129. How blind in our selues, how censorious and *lince-eied against our brethren.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend (1865), 133. The cautious balancing of comparative advantages,… the lynx-eyed watching for opportunities.
1883. 19th Cent., May, 874. The lynx-eyed agent of some loan society.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. vii. 194. Hee [God] sees all secrets, and his *Lynx-like ey … doth every Thought descry.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 218/1. The figures … have small tufts on the tips of their ears, and are otherwise inclined to be lynx-like.
1868. Milman, St. Paul’s, xvi. 380. Lynx-like sagacity.
1812. W. Tennant, Anster F., II. xlix. The Muse’s *lynx-sharp eye.
