Where does “rabbitpox” come from?

rabbitpox (English) comes from English rabbit, from Middle English rabet, from Middle French rabotte, from Dutch robbe, from English robert, from Anglo-Norman Robert.

rabbitpox (English): A disease of rabbits caused by an orthopoxvirus

Definitions

  1. A disease of rabbits caused by an orthopoxvirus

Ancestry of “rabbitpox”, step by step

rabbitpox traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English rabbit

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrabbitA mammal of the family Leporidae, with long ears,...
2Middle Englishrabet—
3Middle Frenchrabotte—
4Dutchrobbe—
5Englishrobert—
6Anglo-NormanRobert—

via English pox

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpoxA disease characterized by purulent skin...
2Middle Englishpocke—
Every word from Anglo-Norman Robert →Every word from English robert →Every word from Dutch robbe →