Obs. exc. in Comb. Forms: α. 1 lynis, 4 lins, 5 lynce, 4, 8–9 dial. lince. β. 6 linche, 9 linch. [OE. lynis masc. = OS. lunisa fem. (Du. luns, lens, late MHG. luns, lunse, mod.G. lünse). A shorter form lin (? OE. *lyne:—*luni-) corresponding to OHG. lun fem., mod.G. dial. lunn, lon, appears in LIN-NAIL and LINPIN.]

1

  † 1.  = LINCH-PIN. Obs.

2

a. 700.  Epinal Gloss., 8. Axedones, lynisas.

3

c. 1000.  Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 267/29. Axedo, lynis.

4

c. 1315.  Shoreham, IV. 223. (E.E.T.S.). Þer-fore me makeþ prynses Þe host to gouerni, And ase whewelen þe linses To-gadere heldeþ hy.

5

1497.  Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 84. Boltes forlokkes kayes lynces and a taile pynne for the said Curtowe.

6

  † b.  Naut. ? A belaying-pin. Obs.

7

1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 41. Haile the linche and the scheitis.

8

  2.  Comb.: † linch-box, ? = axle-box; linch-clout (see quot.); linch-drawer dial., a tool for drawing out linch-pins; linch-hoop, ‘a ring on the spindle of a carriage-axle, held in place by the linch-pin’ (Cent. Dict.). Also LINCH-PIN.

9

1711.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4935/4. One other sort with both Edges Cyphered off, commonly call’d the Lince-box.

10

1782.  Rees’s Cycl., Linch-clout, in Artillery, the flat iron under the ends of the arms of an axle-tree to strengthen them, and diminish the friction of the wheels.

11

1892.  Auctioneer’s Catal. Farm Sale (Kent), Lince drawer and grease pots.

12