An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kaninchen

by Friedrich Kluge

Kaninchen, n., ‘rabbit,’ dimin. of an earlier ModHG. Kanin; it is based upon Lat. cuniculus, which passed into HG. in various forms; MidHG. küniclîn (accented on the first syllable), evidently germanised, also künolt, künlîn, külle. The ModHG. form is based upon a MidLat. variant, caniculus; the form with a is properly restricted to North and Middle Germany, while ü (Künchel) is current in the South. Comp. MidE. coning, E. coney, from Fr. connin (Ital. coniglio).