Lȳnx, n.

noun

n. [Lat. lynx, Gr. λύγξ, allied to A-S. lox, O. Sax. lohs, O. D. lochs, N. D. losch, O. H. Ger. luhs, N. H. Ger. luchs, Lith. lûszis, Fr. lynx, It. & Sp. lince.]

Sense 1. (Zoöl.) An animal of several species of the genus Felis, and much resembling the common cat, but having longer ears and a shorter tail. The common lynx of Europe is the F. Lynx; the Canada lynx is the F. Canadensis, and the wild cat of America is the F. rufus. The lynx has a brilliant eye, and prowls about at night, and this may have given rise to the notion of its sharp sight.

Sense 2. (Astron.) One of the northern constellations.

A botanical drawing of a lyrate leaf with a long central lobe and smaller side lobes. — Lyrate Leaf.

An ornate lyre with a curved frame and vertical strings. — Lyre.

An engraved lyre-bird stands with its long, ornate tail feathers fanned upward behind it. — Lyre-bird (*Menura superba lyra*).