bay lynx

8.6

A small wild cat from North America with a short tail and spotted fur

noun
/beɪ lɪŋks/

: lince rojo

A bay lynx was spotted near the edge of the forest, hunting for small mammals.

Examples

Unlike the Canadian lynx, the bay lynx does not depend solely on snowshoe hares for food.
The bay lynx is well adapted to woodland and semi-desert environments across the continent.
The bay lynx is a fascinating creature.
I saw a bay lynx while hiking in the forest.
A bay lynx was spotted near the edge of the forest, hunting for small mammals.
The bay lynx is well adapted to woodland and semi-desert environments across the continent.
I saw a bay lynx while hiking in the forest.

Synonyms

bobcat

vsbay lynx

33 3.0

A medium-sized wild cat from North America with a short tail and small groups of hair on its ears

is an alternative traditional name for the same animal

Lynx

vsbay lynx

1 4.4

A medium-sized wild cat with short tail, ear tufts, and spotted fur

is the specific North American small species within that broader genus

Lynx rufus

vsbay lynx

Specialized

8.6

A small wild cat native to North America often called the bobcat

is the common traditional name used instead of the scientific label

Surface Forms

bay lynx singular

bay lynxes plural

Morphology

bay + lynx

The compound is a simple modifier + noun (bay + lynx) so a learner who knows 'bay' and 'lynx' can infer it denotes a kind or variety of lynx associated with 'bay' (colour, place, or feature). While the exact taxonomic identity as 'bobcat' is lexical knowledge beyond composition, the basic meaning 'a type of lynx' is directly derivable from the constituents, making it transparently compositional.

Etymology

Bay lynx probably comes from bay, an old word for a reddish brown color, and lynx, the wild cat. People used the name for brown, spotted bobcats, so bay lynx now means the small wild cat often called the 'bobcat' with a short tail and spotted coat.