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

Definitions

  1. hare

Ancestry of “заяц”, step by step

заяц traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Slavic zajęcь

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slaviczajęcьrabbit, hare
2Proto-Balto-Slavic*źṓjinkasrabbit, hare
3Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰey-winter

via Proto-Slavic zajьcь

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slaviczajьcьhare, hopper, jumper
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰey- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic *źṓjinkas →Every word from Proto-Slavic zajęcь →