Forms: 1 hlinc, 3 lynk, 5 pl. linx, 6 lynck, 6– link. See also LINCH. [OE. hlinc, possibly a derivative, with k suffix, of the root hlin- to LEAN.] a. Rising ground; a ridge or bank. Obs. exc. dial. b. pl. (Sc.) Comparatively level or gently undulating sandy ground near the sea-shore, covered with turf, coarse grass, etc. c. pl. The ground on which golf is played, often resembling that described in b.
931. in Earle, Land Charters, 166. Ðonne norð ondlong ðæs hlinces.
c. 1000. Phœnix, 25 (Gr.). Ne dene ne dalu … hlæwas ne hlincas.
c. 1250. Newminster Cartul. (1878), 57. In lez Lynkys apud Blythemowth.
1487. Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 42. No catall sale haf pastour of gyrss apone the lynkis. Ibid. (1514), 93. That euery man compeir upoun the linx efter noun. Ibid. (1545), 221. To find fiue personis … to vaiche thair blokhouse, linkis, and havin nychtlie.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., III. 86. There were … placed … in the linkes … about two hundred horse.
1649. Bp. Guthrie, Mem. (1702), 48. The Marquiss came ashoar … to the Links of Barnbugall at midnight.
1697. Dallas, Stiles, 595. The saids Lands … with the Castles, Towers,… Links, Cunningares, and whole remanent Pertinentis of the samine.
1728. in Burton, Lives Lovat & Culloden (1847), 330. This day,… I got the better of my son at the gouf in Musselburgh links.
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit. (ed. 7), IV. 70. Many Millions of Trees are planted in a sandy Down, or Links, as they call them here, between the House and the Sea.
1836. W. D. Cooper, Gloss. Provinc. Sussex, Link, a green or wooded bank, always on the side of a hill between two pieces of cultivated land.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 8. A narrow strip of links formed of sand knolls fixed by means of bent and similar plants.
1873. Burton, Hist. Scot., VI. lxxii. 259. The Scots army was paraded on the links of Leith by … Leslie.
1882. Stevenson (title), The Pavilion on the Links.
