Lyne
(Lyne) n. Linen. [Obs.] Spenser.
Lynx
(Lynx) n. [L. lynx, lyncis, Gr. ly`gx; akin to AS. lox, G. luchs, prob. named from its sharp sight,
and akin to E. light. See Light, n., and cf. Ounce an animal.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of feline animals of the genus Felis, and subgenus Lynx. They
have a short tail, and usually a pencil of hair on the tip of the ears.
Among the well-known species are the European lynx (Felis borealis); the Canada lynx or loup-cervier
(F. Canadensis); the bay lynx of America and its western spotted variety (var. maculata); and the pardine
lynx (F. pardina) of Southern Europe.
2. (Astron.) One of the northern constellations.
Lynx-eyed
(Lynx"-eyed`) a. Having acute sight.
Lyonnaise
(Ly`on`naise") a. [F. lyonnaise, fem. of lyonnais of Lyons.] (Cookery) Applied to boiled
potatoes cut into small pieces and heated in oil or butter. They are usually flavored with onion and parsley.
Lyopomata
(||Ly`o*po"ma*ta) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. to loose + a lid.] (Zoöl.) An order of brachiopods, in
which the valves of shell are not articulated by a hinge. It includes the Lingula, Discina, and allied forms.
[Written also Lyopoma.]
Lyra
(||Ly"ra) n. [L. lyra, Gr. . See Lyre.]
1. (Astron.) A northern constellation, the Harp, containing a white star of the first magnitude, called
Alpha Lyræ, or Vega.
2. (Anat.) The middle portion of the ventral surface of the fornix of the brain; — so called from the arrangement
of the lines with which it is marked in the human brain.
Lyraid
(Ly"ra*id) n. (Astron.) Same as Lyrid.
Lyrate
(Ly"rate Ly"ra*ted) a. [NL. lyratus. See Lyre.]
1. (Bot.) Lyre-shaped, or spatulate and oblong, with small lobes toward the base; as, a lyrate leaf.
2. (Zoöl.) Shaped like a lyre, as the tail of the blackcock, or that of the lyre bird.
Lyre
(Lyre) n. [OE. lire, OF. lyre, L. lyra, Gr. . Cf. Lyra.]
1. (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music; a kind of harp much used by the ancients, as an accompaniment
to poetry.
The lyre was the peculiar instrument of Apollo, the tutelary god of music and poetry. It gave name to the
species of verse called lyric, to which it originally furnished an accompaniment.
2. (Astron.) One of the constellations; Lyra. See Lyra.
Lyre bat (Zoöl.), a small bat inhabiting India and Ceylon. It is remarkable for the enormous size and
curious shape of the nose membrane and ears. — Lyre turtle (Zoöl.), the leatherback.
Lyre bird
(Lyre" bird`) (Zoöl.) Any one of two or three species of Australian birds of the genus Menura.
The male is remarkable for having the sixteen tail feathers very long and, when spread, arranged in
the form of a lyre. The common lyre bird inhabiting New South Wales, is about the size of a grouse.
Its general color is brown, with rufous color on the throat, wings, tail coverts and tail. Called also lyre
pheasant and lyre-tail.
