Indeed. It could also have been based on (or inspired by) the Italian word
leonessa meaning "lioness":
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https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/leonessa#Italian (in English)
Forchta in biuonga quamon ouer mi, in bethecoda mi thuisternussi.
In ic quad: "uuie sal geuan mi fetheron also duuon, in ic fliugon sal in raston sal?"