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Usenet Posted 16 years ago
Usage
To lynch
What does it take for there to be a lynching?
The M-W dictionary seems to allow for other than hanging.
But my impression is that no one in the USA would consider someone who was beaten to death to have been lynched, even if the other qualifications were met (anger, suspicion or bad behaviour (a crime or smiling at a white woman), done without a trial). Or any other method of killing, other than hanging.
Is there any difference in the Britain or Canada from the meaning in the USA?
I can't use my webbrowser, so any quotation of US or British definitions would be helpful, too, but personal knowledge of usage is probably more important.
Posters should say where they live, and for which area they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years
The M-W dictionary seems to allow for other than hanging.
But my impression is that no one in the USA would consider someone who was beaten to death to have been lynched, even if the other qualifications were met (anger, suspicion or bad behaviour (a crime or smiling at a white woman), done without a trial). Or any other method of killing, other than hanging.
Is there any difference in the Britain or Canada from the meaning in the USA?
I can't use my webbrowser, so any quotation of US or British definitions would be helpful, too, but personal knowledge of usage is probably more important.
Posters should say where they live, and for which area they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years
Top answer
[/nq] From OED, but it appears the Spanish got there first, saying it came from Judge Lynch in Virginia in 18th century. Orig. S.
- [/nq] From OED, but it appears the Spanish got there first, saying it came from Judge Lynch in Virginia in 18th century.
- Orig.
- S.
- trans.
- To condemn and punish by lynch law.
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49 Answers
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[nq:1]What does it take for there to be a lynching?[/nq]
From OED, but it appears the Spanish got there first, saying it came from Judge Lynch in Virginia in 18th century.
Orig. U.S.
trans. To condemn and punish by lynch law. In early use, implying chiefly the infliction of punishment such as whipping, tarring and feathering, or the like; now only, to inflict sentence of death by lynch
From OED, but it appears the Spanish got there first, saying it came from Judge Lynch in Virginia in 18th century.
Orig. U.S.
trans. To condemn and punish by lynch law. In early use, implying chiefly the infliction of punishment such as whipping, tarring and feathering, or the like; now only, to inflict sentence of death by lynch
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[nq:1]What does it take for there to be a lynching? The M-W dictionary seems to allow for other than hanging. ... of killing, other than hanging. Is there any difference in the Britain or Canada from the meaning in the USA?[/nq]
That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name.
If my ignorance is typical, then yes it probably is (now) used i
That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name.
If my ignorance is typical, then yes it probably is (now) used i
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[nq:2]What does it take for there to be a lynching? ... the Britain or Canada from the meaning in the USA?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name. If my ... BrE in a slightly different sense. Extra-judicial punishment by the mob, yes, but not necessarily involving hanging (or even death).[/nq]
BrE uses "lynch mob".
F
[nq:1]That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name. If my ... BrE in a slightly different sense. Extra-judicial punishment by the mob, yes, but not necessarily involving hanging (or even death).[/nq]
BrE uses "lynch mob".
F
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[nq:2]What does it take for there to be a lynching? ... the Britain or Canada from the meaning in the USA?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name.[/nq]
He didn't actually lynch anyone, that is hang him (or kill him), and it had nothing to do with race either when the word was closely related to him. The wikipedia article
[nq:1]That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name.[/nq]
He didn't actually lynch anyone, that is hang him (or kill him), and it had nothing to do with race either when the word was closely related to him. The wikipedia article
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[nq:1]What does it take for there to be a lynching? The M-W dictionary seems to allow for other than hanging.[/nq]
lynch
Etymology: lynch law
Date: 1836
to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction
And for 'lynch law' they have
Etymology: William Lynch ?1820 American vigilante
Date: 1811
the punishment of presumed crimes or offenses usua
lynch
Etymology: lynch law
Date: 1836
to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction
And for 'lynch law' they have
Etymology: William Lynch ?1820 American vigilante
Date: 1811
the punishment of presumed crimes or offenses usua
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[nq:1]What does it take for there to be a lynching? The M-W dictionary seems to allow for other than hanging. ... any quotation of US or British definitions would be helpful, too, but personal knowledge of usage is probably more important.[/nq]
So far, my impression is that those who looked the word up and repeat what the dictionary says, say it means more than hanging. But iirc every American
So far, my impression is that those who looked the word up and repeat what the dictionary says, say it means more than hanging. But iirc every American
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[nq:2]What does it take for there to be a lynching? ... the Britain or Canada from the meaning in the USA?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name. If my ... BrE in a slightly different sense. Extra-judicial punishment by the mob, yes, but not necessarily involving hanging (or even death).[/nq]
Admittedly, I left England
[nq:1]That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea that the etymology was from a proper name. If my ... BrE in a slightly different sense. Extra-judicial punishment by the mob, yes, but not necessarily involving hanging (or even death).[/nq]
Admittedly, I left England
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[nq:2]That's certainly taught me something new. I had no idea ... mob, yes, but not necessarily involving hanging (or even death).[/nq]
[nq:1]BrE uses "lynch mob". Figurative: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/jeremy clarkson/article757025.ece Cornered by the gr
[nq:1]BrE uses "lynch mob". Figurative: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/jeremy clarkson/article757025.ece Cornered by the gr
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[nq:2]What does it take for there to be a lynching? ... too, but personal knowledge of usage is probably more important.[/nq]
[nq:1]So far, my impression is that those who looked the word up and repeat what the dictionary says, say it means more than hanging. But iirc every American except one who said what the word meant to them said it it only meant hanging.[/nq]
I'll jump on board with
[nq:1]So far, my impression is that those who looked the word up and repeat what the dictionary says, say it means more than hanging. But iirc every American except one who said what the word meant to them said it it only meant hanging.[/nq]
I'll jump on board with
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[nq:2]So far, my impression is that those who looked the ... word meant to them said it it only meant hanging.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'll jump on board with the "not necessarily hanging" crowd. I'll also note that dictionaries have been defining it more ... or tied to a stake and shot, as is now done under the perverted system of the present day, ...[/nq]
Like I say, I have no webbrowser now, but thi
[nq:1]I'll jump on board with the "not necessarily hanging" crowd. I'll also note that dictionaries have been defining it more ... or tied to a stake and shot, as is now done under the perverted system of the present day, ...[/nq]
Like I say, I have no webbrowser now, but thi
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