From Proto-Hellenic *lúnks, from Proto-Indo-European *lú(n)ḱs (“lynx”), probably from a nasal-infixed palatal variant of the root *lewk- (“white; light; bright”), because of the cat's seemingly glowing eyes and ability to see in the dark.
Compare Proto-Germanic *luhsaz, Lithuanian lū́šis, Old Armenian լուսանունք (lusanunkʻ, “lynxes”)), and for the sense of "light," λευκός (leukós), Sanskrit रोचते (rocate), Middle Persian 𐭩𐭥𐭬 (rōz , “day”) and Old English lēoht (noun; English light).
λύγξ • (lúnx) m or f (genitive λυγκός); third declension
Case / # | Singular | Dual | Plural | ||||||||||
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Nominative | ὁ, ἡ λύγξ ho, hē lúnx |
τὼ λύγκε tṑ lúnke |
οἱ, αἱ λύγκες hoi, hai lúnkes | ||||||||||
Genitive | τοῦ, τῆς λυγκός toû, tês lunkós |
τοῖν λυγκοῖν toîn lunkoîn |
τῶν λυγκῶν tôn lunkôn | ||||||||||
Dative | τῷ, τῇ λυγκῐ́ tôi, têi lunkí |
τοῖν λυγκοῖν toîn lunkoîn |
τοῖς, ταῖς λυγξῐ́ / λυγξῐ́ν toîs, taîs lunxí(n) | ||||||||||
Accusative | τὸν, τὴν λῦγκᾰ tòn, tḕn lûnka |
τὼ λύγκε tṑ lúnke |
τοὺς, τᾱ̀ς λύγκᾰς toùs, tā̀s lúnkas | ||||||||||
Vocative | λύγξ lúnx |
λύγκε lúnke |
λύγκες lúnkes | ||||||||||
Notes: |
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Probably from Proto-Indo-European *lewǵ- (“to break, shatter”). Related to Latin lugeō (“to mourn, grieve”), Sanskrit रुजति (rujati, “to break open, shatter, injure, cause pain”).
λύγξ • (lúnx) f (genitive λυγγός); third declension
Case / # | Singular | Dual | Plural | ||||||||||
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Nominative | ἡ λύγξ hē lúnx |
τὼ λύγγε tṑ lúnge |
αἱ λύγγες hai lúnges | ||||||||||
Genitive | τῆς λυγγός tês lungós |
τοῖν λυγγοῖν toîn lungoîn |
τῶν λυγγῶν tôn lungôn | ||||||||||
Dative | τῇ λυγγῐ́ têi lungí |
τοῖν λυγγοῖν toîn lungoîn |
ταῖς λυγξῐ́ / λυγξῐ́ν taîs lunxí(n) | ||||||||||
Accusative | τὴν λῦγγᾰ tḕn lûnga |
τὼ λύγγε tṑ lúnge |
τᾱ̀ς λύγγᾰς tā̀s lúngas | ||||||||||
Vocative | λύγξ lúnx |
λύγγε lúnge |
λύγγες lúnges | ||||||||||
Notes: |
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