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lynch - 7 dictionary results

lynch

[linch]
–verb (used with object)
to put to death, esp. by hanging, by mob action and without legal authority.

Origin:
1825–35, Americanism; v. use of lynch in lynch law


lyncher, noun


See hang.

Lynch

[linch]
–noun
John (Jack), 1917–1999, Irish political leader: prime minister 1966–73, 1977–79.
lynch   (lĭnch)   
tr.v.   lynched, lynch·ing, lynch·es
To punish (a person) without legal process or authority, especially by hanging, for a perceived offense or as an act of bigotry.

[Short for lynch law.]
lynch'er n., lynch'ing n.
Lynch   (lĭnch)   
Irish political leader who served as prime minister of Ireland (1966-1973 and 1977-1979).

Lynch

Lynch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lynched; p. pr. & vb. n. Lynching.] [See Note under Lynch law.] To inflict punishment upon, especially death, without the forms of law, as when a mob captures and hangs a suspected person. See Lynch law.

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."

Main Entry: lynch
Pronunciation: 'linch
Function: transitive verb
: to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction —lynch·er noun
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