jennet

Etymology

This word came into English from Late Middle English genet, which traces back to Old French genet, and before that to Old Catalan genet or Old Spanish ginete (“small fast horse; light horseman”). These in turn derive from Andalusian Arabic زَنَاتِي (zanātī), referring to the Zenati or Zenata Berbers, who were known as excellent horse breeders. It is a doublet of Zenati.