Dictionary

lynch en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /lɪnt͡ʃ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

First attested 1835, from Lynch law, which appeared in 1811. There is a popular claim that it was named after William Lynch, but equally strong arguments would have it named after Charles Lynch. For the surname, see Lynch. Ultimately a possible doublet of linch.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob.
   • Public anger erupted. Soldiers were lynched in the streets including young recruits proven to have been deceived by their generals about the true intentions of the attack. 2018, “Europe's Flashpoints” (2:12 from the start), in Close Up — The Current Affairs Documentary, episode 2, (narration regarding the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt) (actor), via Deutsche Welle TV, av-44888523, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2018:
2. (broadly, colloquial, transitive) To castigate severely.
   • I telephoned Bill Brandon in Oxford and begged him to get the new refrigeration unit into production before I got lynched. 2024, Louis Hagen, Suddenly an Englishman:

Forms

Deriveds

lynch mob · lynchman · lynchable · lynching · lynchee · unlynched · lynch law

Descendants

lyncher · linchar · lyncha · linčiúoti · linciare · lynsje · linĉi · lynč · lynchen · lynsje · lynche · リンチ · linç · линчева́ть

Relateds

show trial · kangaroo court

Synonyms

string up (execute without a proper legal trial)

Translations (40)

tr linç etmek (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · da lynche (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · ga linseáil (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · es linchar (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · lt linčiúoti (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · th ลงประชาทัณฑ์ (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · nb lynsje (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · vi hành quyết (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · pt linchar (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · sh lȉnčovati (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · sh ли̏нчовати (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · vi linsơ (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · ru линчева́ть (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · ja 私刑を加える (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · bg линчувам (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · nn lynsja (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · tr linçlemek (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · cmn 執行私刑 /执行私刑 (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · el αυτοδικώ (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · el λιντσάρω (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · pl zlinczować (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · pl linczować (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · fi lynkata (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · ca linxar (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · it linciare (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · et lintšima (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · eo linĉi (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · fr lyncher (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · hu meglincsel (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · sv lyncha (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · el λυντσάρω (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · ru расправля́ться самосу́дом (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · nn lynsje (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · de lynchen (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · gl linchar (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · vi lin-sơ (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · vi hành xác (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · cs lynčovat (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · nl lynchen (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism) · ja リンチを加える (execute without a proper legal trial — see also take the law into one's own hands, vigilantism)

wikipedia: 1811 · wikipedia: Lynch law · wikipedia: William_Lynch_(Lynch_law) · wikipedia: Charles Lynch (jurist)

lynch en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /lɪnt͡ʃ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of linch.
   alt of linch

Forms

Deriveds

lynchable · lynchet · lynchee