Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - lynx

 noun  (plural ~ or ~es)  Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek; akin to Old English lox ~ and probably to Greek leukos white — more at light  Date: 14th century any of several wildcats with relatively long legs, a short stubby tail, mottled coat, and often tufted ears that are thought to comprise a distinct genus (Lynx) of the cat family or to be part of a genus (Felis) that includes the domestic cat and cougar as  a. a ~ (L. ~) of northern Europe and Asia  b. bobcat  c. a North American ~ (L. canadensis) distinguished from the bobcat by its larger size, longer tufted ears, and wholly black tail tip — called also Canadian ~