I. ˈliŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English linge, lenge; akin to Dutch leng ling, German länge, Old Norse langa; derivative from the root of English long (I)
1. : any of various fishes of the family Gadidae: as
a. : a large fish ( Molva molva ) of shallow seas of northern Europe and Greenland that is commonly salted and dried for food or a closely related and similarly used deep-sea fish
b. : the American burbot
c. : any of several American hakes (genus Urophycis )
2. : any of various fishes belonging to families other than Gadidae: as
a. : lingcod
b. : a fish of the family Ophidiidae
c. : cobia
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English lyng, from Old Norse; akin to Old English -ling (II)
1. : a heath plant ; especially : the common Old World heather ( Calluna vulgaris )
2. : a growth of heather or other heaths
III. ˈliŋ noun
also ling ko -ˈkō
( -s )
Etymology: Chinese (Pekingese) ling 2
: water chestnut 1
IV. abbreviation
linguistic, linguistics