cony

or co·ney

[ koh-nee, kuhn-ee ]

noun

, plural co·nies.

1. the fur of a rabbit, especially when dyed to simulate Hudson seal.
2. the daman or other hyrax of the same genus.
3. the pika.
4. a rabbit.
5. Obsolete. a person who is easily tricked; gull; dupe.

cony

/ ˈkəʊnɪ /

noun

1. a rabbit or fur made from the skin of a rabbit
2. (in the Bible) another name for the hyrax, esp the Syrian rock hyrax
3. See pika
   another name for pika
4. archaic.
   a fool or dupe

Word History and Origins

Origin of cony¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, back formation from conyes, from Old French conis, plural of conil, from Latin cunīculus “rabbit, burrow,” a word said to be of Iberian origin, according with evidence that the rabbit spread through Europe from NW Africa and the Iberian Peninsula

Word History and Origins

Origin of cony¹

C13: back formation from conies, from Old French conis, plural of conil, from Latin cunīculus rabbit

Example Sentences

That winter I climbed up to look for a number of objects and wondered concerning the cony.

From Project Gutenberg

One cony had a series of connected rooms, enough almost for a cliff-dweller city.

From Project Gutenberg

It appears that all cony stacks are placed by the entrance of the den, and in as sheltered a spot as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

In the remains of a caved moraine I saw parts of a number of cony dens exposed.

From Project Gutenberg

The upper limits of the inhabited cony zone present a barren appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bunny
• coney
• hare
• lagomorph
• lapin