From the Online Etymology Dictionary:
bunny – 1690, dim. of Scottish dialectal bun, pet name for “rabbit,” previously (1587) for “squirrel,” and also a term of endearment for a young attractive woman or child (1606). Ultimately could be from Scottish bun “tail of a hare” (1538), or from Fr. bon, or from a Scand. source. The Playboy Club hostess sense is from 1960. The Bunny Hug (1912), along with the foxtrot and the Wilson glide, were among the popular/scandalous dances of the ragtime era.
Thanks to Adrienne for making me look this up.
Woah. So Rodin and I were trying to look this up for the past two weeks with no luck. Did you somehow hear of our plight, or is this crazy freakish coincidence?
And so thank you.
Must be crazy freakish coincidence. How crazy. And freakish!