cony

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English cony, back formation from conies (plural), from Anglo-Norman conis, the plural of connil (rabbit), from Latin cunīculus, of unknown origin.

The original pronunciation was /ˈkʌni/ (for the spelling, compare honey and money), but the similarity to cunt (and particularly homophony with cunny) led through taboo avoidance both to the word's displacement in the main by rabbit and bunny and to the spelling-pronunciation /ˈkəʊni/ becoming standard.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkəʊ.ni/
  • (file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkoʊ.ni/
    Rhymes: -əʊni

Noun[edit]

cony (plural conies)

  1. A rabbit, especially the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (formerly known as Lepus cuniculus).
  2. (UK, dialect) Rabbit fur.
  3. Locally for other rabbit-like or hyrax-like animals, such as the Cape hyrax (das, dassie) or the pika (Ochotona princeps, formerly Lagomys princeps).
    1. Used in the Old Testament as a translation of Hebrew שָׁפָן (shafán), thought to be the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis, syn. Hyrax syriacus).
  4. (obsolete) A simpleton; one who may be taken in by a cony-catcher.
    • 1599, Diet's Dry Dinner:
      It is a most simple animal; whence are derived our usual phrases of cony and cony catcher.
  5. An edible West Indian fish, a grouper given in different sources as: Epinephelus apua, the hind of Bermuda; nigger-fish, Epinephelus punctatus; Cephalopholis fulva.
  6. Several species of tropical west Atlantic groupers of family Epinephelidae, such as the mutton hamlet, graysby, Cuban coney, and rooster hind.
  7. (UK, dialect) The burbot.
  8. (obsolete) A woman; a sweetheart.

Synonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Latin cunnus, compare Portuguese cona and Spanish coño.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

cony m (plural conys)

  1. (vulgar) vagina; vulva

Interjection[edit]

cony!

  1. (vulgar) expresses frustration or surprise

Alternative forms[edit]

  • coi (euphemistic)

Further reading[edit]