Etymologically
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lynch

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /lɪntʃ/[1]

Etymology

It is short for lynch law (1811),[2][3][4][5][6] probably named after William Lynch (1742–1820) of Pittsylvania, Virginia, who about 1780 led a vigilance committee to keep order there during the Revolution.[5][4] Other sources trace the name to Charles Lynch, a Virginia magistrate who punished Tories around 1782, but Etymonline thinks this less likely.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

To punish a suspect without legal sanction (1835–1836).[4][5][7][3]

Semantic evolution

In early use the verb usually meant whipping, tarring and feathering or other rough punishment, not killing.[7][5] From the late 19th century it came to mean putting someone to death, especially by hanging, by mob action without a lawful trial.[4][2][3]

Timeline

  • 1811 – lynch law.[4][5]
  • 1835–1836 – to punish without a trial.[4][5][7][3]
  • late 19th century – to put to death by mob action.[4]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To put to death, especially by hanging, by mob action without legal authority.

Word family

  • lyncher
  • lynching

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press