Where does “зайчик” come from?

зайчик (Ukrainian) comes from Ukrainian заєць, from Proto-Slavic zajęcь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *źṓjinkas, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰey- — winter.

зайчик (Ukrainian): reflection of a sunray

Definitions

  1. reflection of a sunray

Ancestry of “зайчик”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ukrainianзаєцьhare
2Proto-Slaviczajęcьrabbit, hare
3Proto-Balto-Slavic*źṓjinkasrabbit, hare
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰey-winter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰey- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic *źṓjinkas →Every word from Proto-Slavic zajęcь →