lynch English · revision 2427

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /lɪntʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is short for [[lynch law]] (1811),^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) probably named after William Lynch (1742–1820) of Pittsylvania, Virginia, who about 1780 led a vigilance committee to keep order there during the Revolution.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) Other sources trace the name to Charles Lynch, a Virginia magistrate who punished Tories around 1782, but Etymonline thinks this less likely.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To punish a suspect without legal sanction (1835–1836).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early use the verb usually meant whipping, tarring and feathering or other rough punishment, not killing.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) From the late 19th century it came to mean putting someone to death, especially by hanging, by mob action without a lawful trial.^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1811 – ''lynch law''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1835–1836 – to punish without a trial.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * late 19th century – to put to death by mob action.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put to death, especially by hanging, by mob action without legal authority.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lyncher]]

+ * [[lynching]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vigilante]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}