From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Cony \Co"ny\ (? or ?; 277), n. [OE. coning, conig, coni, OF.
connin, conin, connil, fr. L. cuniculus a rabbit, cony, prob.
an Hispanic word.] [Written also coney.]
1. (Zool.)
(a) A rabbit, esp., the European rabbit (Lepus
cuniculus).
(b) The chief hare.
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Note: The cony of Scripture is thought to be Hyrax
Syriacus, called also daman, and cherogril. See
Daman.
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2. A simpleton. [Obs.]
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It is a most simple animal; whence are derived our
usual phrases of cony and cony catcher. --Diet's Dry
Dinner (1599).
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3. (Zool.)
(a) An important edible West Indian fish (Epinephelus
apua); the hind of Bermuda.
(b) A local name of the burbot. [Eng.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Chief hare \Chief" hare`\ (Zool.)
A small rodent (Lagamys princeps) inhabiting the summits of
the Rocky Mountains; -- also called crying hare, calling
hare, cony, American pika, and little chief hare.
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Note: It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the
curious family Lagomyid[ae].
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