Here's a breakdown:
* Old English: The word "rabbit" came from the Old English word "rabbet".
* Latin: The word "rabbet" is believed to be derived from the Latin word "cuniculus", which referred to a burrow or hole in the ground.
* French: "Cuniculus" evolved into the French word "conil", which eventually became "lapin". The term "conil" is still used in some Romance languages today.
So, the path of the word "rabbit" is:
1. Latin: cuniculus (burrow)
2. French: conil, then lapin
3. Old English: rabbet
4. Modern English: rabbit
It's interesting to note that while the word itself came from Old English, the animal itself wasn't native to Britain. Rabbits were introduced to Britain by the Romans.