A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

love (v.) --- O.E. lufian, from P.Gmc. *lubojanan, from root of love (n.). Love-hate (adj.) "ambivalent" is from 1937, originally a term in psychological jargon.

love apple --- tomato, 1578, corresponding to Fr. pomme d'amour, Ger. liebesapfel, but the reason for the term remains obscure. One guess is that it is a corruption of It. pomo de'Mori or Sp. pome dei Moro, lit. "Moorish apple."

love bird --- 1595, "small species of W.African parrot, noted for the remarkable attention mating pairs pay to one another;" fig. sense of "a lover" is attested from 1911.

lovelonging --- c.1300, luue langing, from love (n.) + inf. of long (v.).

lovely --- O.E. luflic "affectionate, loveable," the modern sense of "lovable on account of beauty, attractive" is from c.1300, "applied indiscriminately to all pleasing material objects, from a piece of plum-cake to a Gothic cathedral" [Marsh].

low (adj.) --- M.E. lah (c.1150), from O.N. lagr "low," from P.Gmc. *lægaz (cf. O.Fris. lech, Du. laag, Ger. läge "low"), lit. "that which is lying flat;" related to O.E. licgan (see lie (v.)). Meaning "humble in rank" is from c.1200; "undignified" is from 1559; sense of "dejected, dispirited" is attested from 1737. In reference to sounds, it is attested from 1422. In geographical usage, it refers to the part of a country near the sea-shore (c.1300; cf. Low Countries "Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg," 1548). Low-down "vulgar" is from 1888. Lowbrow "person who is not intellectual" is first attested 1902, said to have been coined by humorist Will Irwin. Low-life (adj.) "disreputable, vulgar" is from 1794; as a noun, "coarse, no-good person" it is recorded from 1911. Lowly "humble" is from c.1374.

low (v.) --- O.E. hlowan "make a noise like a cow," from P.Gmc. *khlo- (cf. M.Du. loeyen, O.H.G. hluojen), from onomatopoeic PIE base *kla- (see claim).

lowboy --- chest of drawers on short legs, 1899, from low (adj.) + Fr. bois "wood" (see bush).

lower (v.1) --- to cause to descend, 1606, from lower (adj.), from M.E. lahghere (c.1200), comp. of low (adj.).

lower (v.2) --- (also lour), M.E. louren, luren "to frown, lurk," from O.E. *luran or from its cognates, M.L.G. luren, M.Du. loeren "lie in wait."

Lowestoft --- type of porcelain, named for a town in Suffolk where it was made from 1757.

lox --- 1941, Amer.Eng., from Yiddish laks, from M.H.G. lahs "salmon," from P.Gmc. *lakhs-, from the common IE root for the fish (cf. Lith. laszisza, Rus. losos, Pol. losos "salmon").

loyalty --- c.1400, from O.Fr. loyalté (Fr. loyauté), from O.Fr. loial, from L. legalis "legal," from lex (gen. legis "law"). Replaced Anglo-Norm. leal (q.v.), from the same L. source. Sense development in Eng. is feudal, via notion of "faithful in carrying out legal obligations." Loyalty oath first attested 1952.

lozenge --- c.1327, from O.Fr. losenge "windowpane, small square cake," etc., used for many flat quadrilateral things. Cognates in Sp. losanje, Catalan llosange, It. lozanga. Probably from a pre-Roman Celtic language, perhaps Iberian *lausa or Gaul. *lausa "flat stone" (cf. Prov. lausa, Sp. losa, Catalan llosa, Port. lousa "slab, tombstone"), from a pre-Celtic language. Originally in Eng. a term in heraldry; meaning "small cake or tablet (originally diamond-shaped) of medicine and sugar, etc., meant to be held in the mouth and dissolved" is from 1530.

LSD --- lysergic acid diethylamide, 1950, from Ger. "Lysergsäure-diäthylamid" (abbreviated LSD in a Swiss journal from 1947). Lysergic (1934) is formed from the lys in hydrolysis + first syllable of ergot + -ic.

luau --- 1853, from Hawaiian lu'au, lit. "young taro tops," which were served at outdoor feasts.

lubber --- 1362, "big, clumsy, stupid fellow who lives in idleness," from lobre, earlier lobi "lazy lout," related to lob, and probably of Scand. origin. A sailors' word since 16c. (cf. landlubber), but earliest use was of lazy monks (cf. abbey-lubber). Cf. also lubberwort, the name of the mythical herb that produces laziness (1547); and Lubberland "imaginary land of plenty without work" (1598).

lubricate --- 1623, from L. lubricatus, pp. of lubricare "to make slippery or smooth," from lubricus "slippery." Colloquial shortening lube is attested from 1934.

lucent --- shining, bright, luminous, c.1500, from L. lucentem, prp. of lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)).

Lucian --- masc. proper name, from L. Lucianus (cf. Fr. Lucien), a derivative of Roman Lucius, from lux (gen. lucis) "light" (see light (n.)).

lucid --- 1591, "bright, shining," from L. lucidus "light, bright, clear," from lucere "to shine," from lux (gen. lucis) "light," from PIE base *leuk- "to shine, be bright" (see light (n.)). Sense of "easy to understand" first recorded 1786. Lucid interval "period of calm or temporary sanity" (1581) is from M.L. lucida intervalla (pl.), which was common in medieval Eng. legal documents (cf. non est compos mentis, sed gaudet lucidis intervallis).

Lucifer --- O.E. Lucifer "Satan," also "morning star," from L. Lucifer "morning star," lit. "light-bringing," from lux (gen. lucis) + ferre "carry" (see infer). Belief that it was the proper name of Satan began with its used in Bible to translate Gk. Phosphoros, which translates Heb. Helel ben Shahar in Isaiah xiv.12 -- "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" [KJV] The verse was interpreted by Christians as a reference to "Satan," because of the mention of a fall from Heaven, even though it is literally a reference to the King of Babylon (cf. Isaiah xiv.4). Lucifer match "friction match" is from 1831.

Lucite --- 1937, proprietary name (E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Del., U.S.) for a solid, transparent plastic, from L. luc(i)- "light."

luck --- 15c. from M.Du. luc, shortening of gheluc "happiness, good fortune," of unknown origin. Related to M.H.G. g(e)lücke, Ger. Glück "fortune, good luck." Perhaps first borrowed in Eng. as a gambling term. Lucky break dates from 1938. To luck out "succeed through luck" is Amer.Eng. colloquial, first attested 1954.

lucrative --- c.1412, from L. lucrativus "gainful, profitable," from lucratus, pp. of lucrari "to gain," from lucrum "gain, profit."

lucre --- c.1380, from L. lucrum "gain, profit," from PIE base *lu-/*leu- (cf. Gk. apo-lanein "to enjoy," Goth. launs, Ger. lohn "wages, reward," and possibly Skt. lotam, lotram "booty"). Filthy lucre (Tit. i:11) is Tyndale's rendering of Gk. aischron kerdos.

Lucretia --- fem. proper name, from L. Lucretia, fem. of Lucretius, Roman masc. proper name, originally the name of a Roman gens.

lucubration --- 1595, "literary work showing signs of too-careful elaboration," from L. lucubrationem (nom. lucubratio) "nocturnal study, night work," from lucubratus, pp. of lucubrare, lit. "to work by artificial light," from stem of lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)).

Lucy --- fem. proper name, from Fr. Lucie, from L. Lucia, fem. of Lucius (see Lucian).

Luddite --- 1811, from name taken by an organized band of weavers who destroyed machinery in Midlands and northern England 1811-16 for fear it would deprive them of work. Supposedly from Ned Ludd, a Leicestershire worker who in 1779 had done the same before through insanity (but the story was first told in 1847). Applied to modern rejecters of automation and technology from at least 1961.

ludicrous --- 1619, "pertaining to play or sport," from L. ludicrus, from ludicrum "source of amusement, joke," from ludere "to play," which, with L. ludus "a game, play," may be from Etruscan, or from a PIE base *leid- "to play." Sense of "ridiculous" is attested from 1782.

luff --- c.1205, from O.Fr. lof, an obscure nautical device, or from M.Du. loef "windward side of a ship."

Luftwaffe --- Ger. air force in World War II, 1935, from Ger., lit. "air-weapon," from Luft (see loft).

lug (n.) --- 1624, "handle of a pitcher," from lugge (Scot.) "earflap of a cap, ear" (1495; in 19c. Scotland this was the only word for "ear"), probably from Scand. (cf. Swed. lugg "forelock," Norw. lugg "tuft of hair"). The connecting notion is "something that can be gripped and pulled." Applied 19c. to mechanical objects that can be grabbed or gripped. Meaning "stupid fellow" is from 1924; that of "lout, sponger" is 1931, Amer.Eng.

lug (v.) --- c.1300, "to move (something) heavily or slowly," from Scand. (cf. Swed. lugga, Norw. lugge "to pull by the hair"); see lug (n.).

luge --- 1905, from Fr. luge "small coasting sled," from Savoy dial., from M.L. sludia "sled" (9c.), perhaps from a Gaulish word from the same root as Eng. sled, slide.

Luger --- 1904, from Georg Luger, Ger. firearms expert.

luggage --- 1596, from lug (v.) "to drag;" so, lit. "what has to be lugged about" (or, in Johnson's definition, "any thing of more bulk than value"). In 20c., the usual word for "baggage belonging to passengers."

lugubrious --- 1601, from L. lugubris "mournful, pertaining to mourning," from lugere "to mourn," from PIE base *leug- "to break, to cause pain" (cf. Gk. lygros "mournful, sad," Skt. rujati "breaks, torments," Lettish lauzit "to break the heart").

lugworm --- 1602, from lug, probably a Celtic word unrelated to lug (n.) or lug (v.) (the first recorded use is in a Cornwall context) + worm.

Luke --- masc. proper name, from L. Lucas (Gk. Loukas), contraction of Lucanus lit. "of Lucania," district in Lower Italy, home of the Lucani, a branch of the Sabelline race.

luke --- obsolete except in lukewarm (1398), from M.E. leuk "tepid" (c.1205), perhaps from M.Du. or O.Fris. leuk, or from O.E. hleowe (adv.) "warm." First record of lukewarm in the fig. sense of "lacking in zeal" (of persons or their actions) is from c.1522.

lull (v.) --- c.1300, lullen "hush to sleep," probably imitative of lu-lu sound used to lull a child to sleep (cf. Swed. lulla "to hum a lullaby," Ger. lullen "to rock," Skt. lolati "moves to and fro," M.Du. lollen "to mutter"). The noun is attested from 1659.

lullaby --- c.1560, lulley by, from M.E. lollai, lullay, from lullen (see lull). Second element perhaps from by-by "good-by."

lulu --- remarkable person or thing, 1886 (first attested in a baseball article from New Orleans, U.S.), perhaps from earlier looly "beautiful girl," of unknown origin.

lumbago --- 1620 (implied in lumbaginous), from L.L. lumbago "weakness of loins and lower back," from L. lumbus "loin."

lumbar --- pertaining to or situated near the loins, 1656, from Mod.L. lumbaris, from L. lumbus "loin."

lumber (n.) --- timber sawn into rough planks, 1662, Amer.Eng. (Massachusetts), earlier "disused bit of furniture; heavy, useless objects" (1552), probably from lumber (v.), perhaps influenced by Lombard, from the Italian immigrants famous as pawnbrokers and money-lenders in England (see Lombard). The evolution of sense would be because a lumber-house ("pawn shop") naturally accumulates odds and ends of furniture. Lumberjack first attested 1831, Canadian Eng.

lumber (v.) --- to move clumsily, c.1300, lomere, probably from a Scand. source (cf. dial. Swed. loma "move slowly," O.N. lami "lame"), ultimately cognate with lame (adj.).

luminary --- c.1450, "source of (artificial) light," from M.Fr. luminarie "lamp, light," from L.L. luminare "light, torch, lamp, heavenly body," lit. "that which gives light," from L. lumen (gen. luminis) "light." Sense of "notable person" is first recorded 1692. Luminescence is from 1896. Luminosity in astronomy sense of "intrinsic brightness of a heavenly body" (as distinguished from apparent magnitude, which diminishes with distance), is attested from 1906.

luminous --- 1432, "full of light," from L. luminosus "shining, full of light," from lumen (gen. luminis) "light," related to lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)).

lummox --- 1825, East Anglian slang, perhaps from dumb ox, influenced by lumbering; or from E. Anglian dialectal form of lummock "move heavily or clumsily," of uncertain origin.

lump (n.) --- c.1300, lumpe, perhaps from a Scandinavian source (cf. cognate Dan. lumpe, 16c.), of unknown origin. Phrase lump in (one's) throat "feeling of tightness brought on by emotion" is from 1803. Lumps "hard knocks, a beating" is colloquial, from 1935.

lump (v.) --- endure (now usually in contrast to like), 1791, apparently an extended sense from an older meaning "to look sulky, dislike" (1577), of unknown origin, perhaps a symbolic sound (cf. grump, harumph, etc.).

lumpectomy --- 1972, from lump (n.), coined on model of mastectomy.

lumpenproletariat --- from Marx, 1850, who used it to mean "rabble, poorest of the working class," from Ger. lump "ragamuffin" + proletariat (q.v.). Secondary sense of "boorish, stupid people" led to lumpen- being taken as a suffix meaning "unenlightened."

lunacy --- 1541, "condition of being a lunatic," formed in Eng. from lunatic (q.v.). Originally in ref. to intermittent periods of insanity, such as were believed to be triggered by the moon's cycle. The O.E. equivalent was monaðseocnes "month-sickness."

lunar --- of or pertaining to the moon, 1626, from O.Fr. lunaire, from L. lunaris "of the moon," from luna "moon," (with capital L-) "moon goddess," from *leuksna- (cf. O.C.S. luna "moon," O.Pruss. lauxnos "stars," M.Ir. luan "light, moon"), from the same source as lux, lumen "light." The luna moth (1884) so called for the crescent-shaped markings on its wings.

lunatic (adj.) --- c.1290, "affected with periodic insanity, dependent on the changes of the moon," from O.Fr. lunatique "insane," from L. lunaticus "moon-struck," from luna "moon." Cf. O.E. monseoc "lunatic," lit. "moon-sick;" M.H.G. lune "humor, temper, mood, whim, fancy" (Ger. Laune), from L. luna. Cf. also N.T. Gk. seleniazomai "be epileptic," from selene "moon." The noun meaning "lunatic person" is first recorded 1377. Lunatic fringe (1913) was apparently coined by U.S. politician Theodore Roosevelt. Lunatic soup (1933) was Australian slang for "alcoholic drink."

lunch --- modern sense of "mid-day repast" is 1829, shortened form of luncheon. The verb meaning "to take to lunch" is attested from 1823.

luncheon --- 1580, nonechenche "light mid-day meal," from none "noon" + schench "drink," from O.E. scenc, from scencan "pour out." Altered by northern Eng. dial. lunch "hunk of bread or cheese" (1590), which probably is from Sp. lonja "a slice," lit. "loin." When it first appeared, luncheon meant "thick piece, hunk;" sense of "light repast between mealtimes" is from 1652, esp. in ref. to an early afternoon meal eaten by those who have a noontime dinner. Type of restaurant called a luncheonette is attested from 1924, Amer.Eng. Slang phrase out to lunch "insane, stupid, clueless" first recorded 1955, on notion of being "not there."

lunette --- 1580, from M.Fr., lit. "little moon," dim. of lune "moon," from L. luna. Originally a type of horse shoe, later applied to a wide range of objects and ornamentations resembling a crescent moon.

lung --- O.E. lungen (pl.), from P.Gmc. *lungw- (cf. O.N. lunge, O.Fris. lungen, M.Du. longhe, Ger. lunge "lung"), lit. "the light organ," from PIE *lengwh- "not heavy, light, easy, agile, nimble" (cf. Rus. lëgkij, Pol. lekki "light;" Rus. lëgkoje, Pol. lekkie "lung," Gk. elaphros "light" in weight; see also lever). Cf. Port. leve "lung," from L. levis "light;" Ir. scaman "lungs," from scaman "light;" Welsh ysgyfaint "lungs," from ysgafn "light." See also lights.

lunge --- 1735, "a thrust with a sword," originally a fencing term, shortened from allonge, from Fr. allonger "to extend, thrust," from O.Fr. alongier "to lengthen, make long," from à "to" + O.Fr. long, from L. longus "long" (see long (adj.)). The verb is attested from 1809; the sense of "to make a sudden forward rush" is from 1821.

lunk --- slow-witted person, 1867, Amer.Eng. colloquial, from lunkhead (1852), possibly an altered form of lump (n.) + head.

Lupercalia --- Roman festival held Feb. 15, in honor of Lupercus, god (identified with Lycean Pan) who had a grotto at the foot of the Palatine Hill, from L. Lupercalia (pl.), from Lupercalis "pertaining to Lupercus," whose name derives from lupus "wolf."

lupine --- wolf-like, 1660, from Fr. lupine "wolf-like," from L. lupinus "of the wolf," from lupus "wolf." The plant name is attested from 1398, from L. lupinus; but the reason for association with the animal is unclear; perhaps it was so called because of a belief that the plants were harmful to soil.

lupus --- 1392, used of several diseases that cause ulcerations of the skin, from M.L. lupus, from L. lupus "wolf," apparently because it "devours" the affected part.

lurch (1) --- sudden pitch to one side, 1819 (in Byron's "Don Juan"), from earlier lee-larch (1769), a nautical term for "sudden violent roll to leeward which a ship often takes in a high sea," perhaps from Fr. lacher "to let go," from L. laxus (see lax).

lurch (2) --- predicament, 1584, from M.E. lurch (v.) "to beat in a game of skill (often by a great many points)," c.1350, probably lit. "to make a complete victory in lorche," a game akin to backgammon, from O.Fr. lourche. The game name is perhaps related to M.E. lurken, lorken "to lie hidden, lie in ambush," or it may be adopted into Fr. from M.H.G. lurz "left," also "wrong."

lure (n.) --- c.1385, "something which allures or entices," from Anglo-Fr. lure, from O.Fr. loirre "device used to recall hawks, lure," from Frank. *loþr, from P.Gmc. *lothran "to call" (cf. M.H.G. luoder, M.L.G. loder "lure, bait," Ger. Luder "lure, deceit, bait," O.E. laþian "to call, invite"). Originally a bunch of feathers on a long cord, from which the hawk is fed during its training. Used of means of alluring other animals (esp. fish) from c.1700. Technically, bait is something the animal can eat; lure is a more general term. The verb is from c.1386, of hawks; 1393, of persons.

lurid --- 1656, from L. luridus "pale yellow, ghastly," of uncertain origin, perhaps cognate with Gk. khloros (see Chloe). The figurative sense of "sensational" is first attested 1850.

lurk --- c.1300, lurken "to hide, lie hidden," probably from Scand. (cf. dial. Norw. lurka "to sneak away," dial. Swed. lurka "to be slow in one's work"), perhaps ult. related to M.E. luren "to frown, lurk" (see lower (v.2)).

luscious --- c.1420, variant of licius, which is perhaps a shortening of delicious.

lush (adj.) --- 1440, "lax, flaccid, soft, tender," from O.Fr. lasche "soft, succulent," from laschier "loosen," from L.L. laxicare "become shaky," related to L. laxare "loosen," from laxus "loose" (see lax). Sense of "luxuriant in growth" is first attested 1610; erroneously applied to colors since 1744.

lush (n.) --- 1890, "drunkard," from earlier (1790) slang meaning "liquor" (in phrase lush ken "alehouse"); perhaps a humorous use of lush (adj.) or from Romany or Shelta (tinkers' jargon).

Lusitania --- 1607, the Latin name of a region roughly corresponding to modern Portugal; in modern use, allusive or poetic for "Portugal."

lust --- O.E. lust "desire, pleasure," from P.Gmc. *lustuz (cf. O.S., O.Fris., Du., Ger. lust, O.N. lyst, Goth. lustus "pleasure, desire, lust"), from PIE *las- "to be eager, wanton, or unruly" (cf. L. lascivus "wanton, playful, lustful;" see lascivious). In M.E., "any source of pleasure or delight," also "an appetite," also "a liking for a person," also "fertility" (of soil). Sense of "sinful sexual desire, degrading animal passion" (now the main meaning) developed in late O.E. from the word's use in Bible translations. In other Gmc. languages, the cognates of lust tend to still mean simply "pleasure." The verb is first attested c.1230, "to please, delight;" sense of "to have a strong sexual desire (for or after)" is first attested 1526 in biblical use. Lusty (c.1225) mostly has escaped the Christianization of the word; the original usage was "joyful, merry," later "full of healthy vigor" (c.1374). The sense of "full of desire" is attested from c.1400.

luster --- c.1522, from M.Fr. lustre "gloss, radiance," common Romanic (cf. Sp., Port. lustre, Rum. lustru, It. lustro "splendor, brilliancy"), from L. lustrare "spread light over, brighten, illumine," related to lucere "shine," lux "light" (see light (n.)).

lute --- 1295, from O.Fr. lut, from O.Prov. laut, from Arabic al-'ud, the Arabian lute, lit. "the wood" (source of Sp. laud, Port. alaude, It. liuto), where al is the definite article.

Lutheran --- 1521, from name of Ger. religious reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546); used by Catholics 16c. in reference to all Protestants, regardless of sect.

lutz --- skating jump, 1938, alt. of name of Austrian figure skater Alois Lutz (1898–1918), who invented it.

Luxor --- place in Egypt, from Arabic al-Kusur, lit. "the palaces," from pl. of kasr, which is from L. castrum "fortified camp" (see castle). There are remains of Roman camps nearby.

luxuriant --- c.1540, from L. luxuriantem (nom. luxurians), prp. of luxuriare "have to excess, grow profusely" (see luxuriate).

luxuriate --- 1621, "to indulge in luxury," from L. luxuriatum, pp. of luxuriare "indulge, have to excess," from luxuria "excess" (see luxury).

luxurious --- c.1330, "lascivious, lecherous, unchaste," from O.Fr. luxurius (Fr. luxurieux), from L. luxuriosus, from luxuria (see luxury). Meaning "given to luxury, voluptuous" (of persons) is from 1606. Of things, meaning "characterized by luxury" is attested from 1650.

luxury --- 1340, "lasciviousness, sinful self-indulgence," from O.Fr. luxurie, from L. luxuria "excess, luxury," from luxus "excess, extravagance, magnificence," probably a fig. use of luxus (adj.) "dislocated," which is related to luctari "wrestle, strain." Lost its pejorative taint 17c. Meaning "habit of indulgence in what is choice or costly" is from 1633; that of "sumptuous surroundings" is from 1704; that of "something enjoyable or comfortable beyond life's necessities" is from 1780. First used as an adjective 1930.

lycanthropy --- 1584, from Gk. lykanthropia, from lykos "wolf" + anthropos "man" (see anthro-). Originally a form of madness (described by ancient writers) in which the afflicted thought he was a wolf; applied to actual transformations of persons (esp. witches) into wolves since 1830 (see werewolf).

lyceum --- c.1580, L. version of Gk. lykeion, grove or garden with covered walks near Athens where Aristotle taught, from neut. of Lykeios "wolf-slayer," an epithet of Apollo, whose temple was nearby, from lykos "wolf." Hence, Fr. lycée, name given in France to state-run secondary schools. In England, early 19c., lyceum was the name taken by a number of literary societies; in U.S., after c.1820, it was the name of institutes that sponsored popular lectures in science and literature.

Lycra --- elastic polyurethane fiber, 1958, proprietary name (reg. by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., U.S.) of an elastic polyurethane fiber.

lye --- O.E. læg, leag, from P.Gmc. *laugo (cf. M.Du. loghe, Du. loog, O.H.G. louga, Ger. Lauge "lye"), from PIE root *lou- "to wash" (see lave). The substance was used in the old days in place of soap, hence O.H.G. luhhen "to wash," O.N. laug "hot bath, hot spring," Dan. lørdag, Swed. lördag "Saturday," lit. "washing-day." Chamber-lye in the Middle Ages was the name for urine used as a detergent.

lying --- c.1225, action of lie (v.2) "to recline." Lying-in "being in childbed" is attested from c.1440.

lymph --- 1725 in physiology sense, "colorless fluid found in the body," from Fr. lymphe, from L. lympha "water, clear water, a goddess of water," variant of lumpæ "waters," altered by infl. of Gk. nymphe "goddess of a spring, nymph."

lynch (v.) --- 1835, from earlier Lynch law (1811), likely named after William Lynch (1742-1820) of Pittsylvania, Va., who c.1780 led a vigilance committee to keep order there during the Revolution. Other sources trace the name to Charles Lynch (1736-96) a Virginia magistrate who fined and imprisoned Tories in his district c.1782, but the connection to him is less likely. Originally any sort of summary justice, especially by flogging; narrowing of focus to "extralegal execution by hanging" is 20c. Lynch mob is attested from 1838. The surname is either from O.E. hlinc "hill" or Ir. Loingseach "sailor."