# coney

/ˈkoʊni/ (US) · /kənˈaɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coney
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

an old word for a rabbit. You might see this in history books or when reading about traditional British food like rabbit pie.

For teachers: a rabbit, especially the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Historically used to distinguish adult rabbits from their young, though now largely archaic or restricted to culinary and legal contexts.

## Examples

- The hunter caught a coney for the evening meal.
- In medieval England, the coney was a valuable source of both meat and fur for the local population.
- The tapestry depicts a pastoral scene where a coney sits alert near its burrow, unaware of the hounds approaching from the forest edge.

## Usage notes

- Now largely archaic in general speech; primarily survives in British place names, legal statutes, or historical literature.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.