Where does “беляк” come from?

беляк (Russian) comes from Russian бе́лый, from Proto-Slavic bělъ, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēlHs — white surface or stain.

беляк (Russian): white hare, mountain hare, arctic hare

Definitions

  1. white hare, mountain hare, arctic hare

Ancestry of “беляк”, step by step

беляк traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian бе́лый

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianбе́лыйwhite, light
2Proto-Slavicbělъwhite
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰēlHswhite surface or stain

via Proto-Slavic bezdětьnъ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slavicbezdětьnъchildless
2Proto-Slavicdětęchild
3Proto-Indo-Europeandʰeh₁-to do, put, place
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēlHs →Every word from Proto-Slavic bělъ →Every word from Russian бе́лый →