Where does “заяц” come from?
заяц (Belarusian) comes from Proto-Slavic zajęcь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *źṓjinkas, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰey- — winter.
заяц (Belarusian): hare
Ancestry of “заяц”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Slavic | zajęcь | rabbit, hare |
| 2 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | *źṓjinkas | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰey- | winter |