Dictionary

roof rabbit en · NOUN

Etymology

From roof + rabbit. From the common habit of cats to prowl on rooftops, and the meat being sold or passed off as rabbit. Similar formations exist in several European languages. Perhaps the earliest attestation (and eventual origin?) is Middle Low German bönhase (“cat”, literally “loft hare”), which is attested in the early 14th century (as a name and thus probably even older). More at German Bönhase and Dachhase.

Meanings

1. (euphemistic) cat meat

Forms

Synonyms

gutter rabbit

Translations (4)

it coniglio di grondaia ((euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat) · nl dakhaas ((euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat) · de Dachhase ((euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat) · fr lapin de gouttière ((euphemistic) cat meat — see also cat meat)