Lincoln Imp

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A grotesque carving, having long ears and only one leg, in the Angel Choir of Lincoln Cathedral.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “Lincoln Imp” mean?

A grotesque carving, having long ears and only one leg, in the Angel Choir of Lincoln Cathedral.

Is “Lincoln Imp” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.