Etymograph

English

lynx

Lynx comes from Latin lynx ‘a lynx’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘white’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘white’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*lúnksreconstructed
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλύγξlúnx
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElynx‘a lynx’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  6. Englishtodaysame form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘white’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*lúnksreconstructed
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλύγξlúnx
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElynx‘a lynx’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  6. Englishtodaysame form

The story

From Middle English lynx, linx, lenx, lynce, from Latin lynx, from Ancient Greek λύγξ (lúnx), from Proto-Hellenic *lúnks, from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (‘white; light; bright’), because of the cat's seemingly glowing eyes and ability to see in the dark.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘white’

light, low, link, los, lucy, lunar, luna, lea, illumination, lux, illuminate, lucid, luminous, translucent, lumen, luce, luminosity, lumia, lum, lune, loach, leucine, luminescent, luminary, luminal, 75 more

through Latin lynx ‘a lynx’

ounce, 1 more

Today it means

noun Any of several medium-sized wild cats of the genus Lynx.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewk- / lynx

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