lynx

英文词源

lynx

lynx: [14] The lynx, a member of the cat family, probably gets its name from its clear sight. It comes via Latin lynx from Greek lúgx, which probably derived from the same Indo-European root (*leuk-) as produced English light and (via Latin) illuminate, illustrate, lucid, luminous, lunar, and lustre. A precedent for its application to ‘seeing’ is provided by Greek leússein ‘see’.
=> illustrate, light, ounce

lynx (n.)

mid-14c., from Latin lynx (source of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian lince), from Greek lyngz, perhaps from PIE *leuk- "light" (see light (n.)), in reference to its gleaming eyes or its ability to see in the dark.

If that men hadden eyghen of a beeste that highte lynx, so that the lokynge of folk myghte percen thurw the thynges that withstonden it. [Chaucer's "Boethius," c. 1380]

Compare Lithuanian luzzis, Old High German luhs, German luchs, Old English lox, Dutch los, Swedish lo "lynx."