roof rabbit
English
editEtymology
editFrom roof + rabbit. From the common habit of cats to prowl on rooftops, and the meat being sold or passed off as rabbit. Similar formations exist in several European languages. Perhaps the earliest attestation (and eventual origin?) is Middle Low German bönhase (“cat”, literally “loft hare”), which is attested in the early 14th century (as a name and thus probably even older). More at German Bönhase and Dachhase.
Noun
editroof rabbit (plural roof rabbits)
Synonyms
editTranslations
edit(euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat
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