Inherited from Proto-Balto-Slavic *lapśāˀ with an extra element *-š (< *-ḱ), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wl̥p- ~ *h₂(w)lṓp-, ultimately from the stem *wel- (“to pluck; to steal, to plunder; to tear”), whence also vilks (“wolf”), q.v.). The original meaning was, as in the case of vilks, also “thief,” “tearer.” Cognates include Latgalian lopsa, Lithuanian lãpė, Old Prussian lape, Sudovian łaps, Breton louarn, Ancient Greek ἀλώπηξ (alṓpēx), Sanskrit लोपाश (lopāśa, “fox, jackal”), Latin volpēs, Khotanese [script needed] (rrūvāsa), Armenian աղվես (aġves), Persian روباه (rubâh) and probably Proto-Slavic *lisa.