Lapin
/ˈlæpɪn/noun
A rabbit, especially in French.
Did you know?French lapin is a real word for “rabbit,” but its origin is debated: it likely developed from a regional Romance form related to Latin lepus, meaning “hare,” not from any magical or occult root.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
lepus
“hare”
Late Latin / Regional Romance
Romance
*leporinus / *lapinus
“a hare-like animal; later a rabbit term in some Romance dialects”
Old French
Old French
lapin
“rabbit”
Modern French
French
lapin
“rabbit”
Modern English
English
lapin
“a rabbit; also a rabbit fur or rabbit meat in some contexts”