What is "welsh rabbit"

Rabbit \Rab"bit\ (r[a^]b"b[i^]t), n. [OE. rabet, akin to OD. robbe, robbeken.] (Zo["o]l.) Any of the smaller species of the genus Lepus, especially the common European species ( Lepus cuniculus), which is often kept as a pet, and has been introduced into many countries. It is remarkably prolific, and has become a pest in some parts of Australia and New Zealand. Note: The common American rabbit ( Lepus sylvatica) is similar but smaller. See Cottontail, and Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack. The larger species of Lepus are commonly called hares. See Hare. Angora rabbit (Zo["o]l.), a variety of the domestic rabbit having long, soft fur. Rabbit burrow, a hole in the earth made by rabbits for shelter and habitation. Rabbit fish. (Zo["o]l.)

1. The northern chim[ae]ra ( Chim[ae]ra monstrosa).

2. Any one of several species of plectognath fishes, as the bur fish, and puffer. The term is also locally applied to other fishes. Rabbits' ears. (Bot.) See Cyclamen. Rabbit warren, a piece of ground appropriated to the breeding and preservation of rabbits. --Wright. Rock rabbit.

   1. (Zo["o]l.) See Daman, and Klipdas.

   2. the pika.

      Welsh rabbit, a dish of which the chief constituents are melted cheese over toasted bread, flavored in various ways, as with ale, beer, milk, or spices. The name is popularly said to be a corruption of Welsh rare bit, but it is probably merely a humorous designation; -- also called Welsh rarebit.

Welsh \Welsh\, a. [AS. w[ae]lisc, welisc, from wealh a stranger, foreigner, not of Saxon origin, a Welshman, a Celt, Gael; akin to OHG. walh, whence G. w["a]lsch or welsch, Celtic, Welsh, Italian, French, Foreign, strange, OHG. walhisc; from the name of a Celtic tribe. See Walnut.] Of or pertaining to Wales, or its inhabitants. [Sometimes written also Welch.]

Welsh flannel, a fine kind of flannel made from the fleece of the flocks of the Welsh mountains, and largely manufactured by hand.

Welsh glaive, or Welsh hook, a weapon of war used in former times by the Welsh, commonly regarded as a kind of poleax.
--Fairholt.
--Craig.

Welsh mortgage (O. Eng. Law), a species of mortgage, being a conveyance of an estate, redeemable at any time on payment of the principal, with an understanding that the profits in the mean time shall be received by the mortgagee without account, in satisfaction of interest.
--Burrill.

Welsh mutton, a choice and delicate kind of mutton obtained from a breed of small sheep in Wales.

Welsh onion (Bot.), a kind of onion ( Allium fistulosum) having hollow inflated stalks and leaves, but scarcely any bulb, a native of Siberia. It is said to have been introduced from Germany, and is supposed to have derived its name from the German term w["a]lsch foreign.

Welsh parsley, hemp, or halters made from hemp. [Obs. & Jocular]
--J. Fletcher.

Welsh rabbit. See under Rabbit.