*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of lynch

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 Lync

2 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
verb

To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob. · To castigate severely.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":der",
        "3": "Lynch",
        "id": "execute"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*kleng-\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*hlinkaz\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*hlink\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"hlinc\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"Lynch\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"lynch\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"execute\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"lynch\" id=\"English:_execute\">"
    },
    {
      "name": "dbt",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "linch",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "doublet of linch"
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":der",
        "3": "Lynch",
        "id": "execute"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "Lynch",
      "Lynch#English"
    ],
    [
      "linch",
      "linch#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "Czech",
      "lang_code": "cs",
      "word": "lynč",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Danish",
      "lang_code": "da",
      "word": "lynche",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "lang_code": "eo",
      "word": "linĉi",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "word": "lyncher",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "word": "lynchen",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Italian",
      "lang_code": "it",
      "word": "linciare",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "lang_code": "ja",
      "word": "リンチ",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "rinchi"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Lithuanian",
      "lang_code": "lt",
      "word": "linčiúoti",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
      "lang_code": "nb",
      "word": "lynsje",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
      "lang_code": "nn",
      "word": "lynsje",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "word": "линчева́ть",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "linčevátʹ"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "word": "linchar",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "lang_code": "sv",
      "word": "lyncha",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "lang_code": "tr",
      "word": "linç",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob.",
        "To castigate severely."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive",
        "broadly",
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "recordId": "c0aba1fae347f4f41db093857a78f6b82c434368c4d8ebde36683eb2e328f1a7",
      "rawRecordSha256": "f2f21717b1857f0c435acc1d8a073aa8eb9b717b1bcf88e9e58b81fee3227a9a",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 224231
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
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  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
noun

Alternative form of linch.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

No narrative was extracted for this section. Available source templates and references appear below; no ancestor chain has been invented to fill the gap.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
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    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "id": "linch"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    },
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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "id": "linch"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    }
  ],
  "links": [],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of linch."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ],
      "recordId": "c071e2afa85d0237362cb8cd6175aa7f9eca0b3cf722f9629a2d7129cfa9f5d9",
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}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for lynch →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-bHluY2g