Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lynx” come from?

Lynx comes from Middle English lynx, from Latin lynx, from Ancient Greek λύγξ, from Proto-Indo-European leuk-, meaning to shine or see.

lynx (English): Any of several medium-sized wild cats, mostly of...

Definitions

  1. Any of several medium-sized wild cats, mostly of...

Ancestry of “lynx”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlynxlynx
2LatinlynxA lynx
3Ancient Greekλύγξlynx; hiccup
4LatincanadensisCanadian
5Latin-ensisOf or from
6Latinarvumfield; farm land
7Latincolō—
8Latinquelō—
9Proto-Italickʷelō—
10Proto-Indo-Europeankʷéleti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “lynx”

  • lynxlike
  • リンクス
  • ลิงซ์
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →