rabbit

¹rab·bit

noun, often attributive \ˈra-bət\

plural rabbit or rabbits

Definition of RABBIT

1

: any of a family (Leporidae) of long-eared short-tailed lagomorph mammals with long hind legs:

a : any of various lagomorphs that are born furless, blind, and helpless, that are sometimes gregarious, and that include especially the cottontails of the New World and a small Old World mammal (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that is the source of various domestic breeds

b : hare

2

: the pelt of a rabbit

3

: welsh rabbit

4

a : a figure of a rabbit sped mechanically along the edge of a dog track as an object of pursuit

b : a runner in a long-distance race who sets a fast pace for the field in the first part of the race

— rab·bity \-bə-tē\ adjective

Examples of RABBIT

1. We keep rabbits as pets.

Origin of RABBIT

Middle English rabet, probably from Middle French dialect (Walloon) robett, from obsolete or dialect Dutch robbe, robbeken; probably akin to Middle Low German robbe seal, East Frisian rubben to scratch, rub — more at rub

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Fur and Leather Terms

chamois, fell, kip

Rhymes with RABBIT

abbot, habit, rabbet, sabbat

²rabbit

intransitive verb

Definition of RABBIT

: to hunt rabbits

— rab·bit·er noun

First Known Use of RABBIT

1846

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with RABBIT

habit, rabbet

rabbit

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus).—(Top) Jane Burton/Bruce Coleman Inc., (bottom) Steve and Dave Maslowski

Any small, bounding, gnawing mammal of the family Leporidae. Rabbits have long ears, a short tail, long hind legs, and continuously growing incisors. Most species are gray or brown and range in size from 10 to 18 in. (25 to 45 cm) long and 1 to 4 lb (0.5 to 2 kg). They feed primarily on grasses. Their reproductive rate is very high; unlike hares, rabbits are born blind, hairless, and helpless. Most species are nocturnal and live alone in burrows. However, the European, or Old World, rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus; of Europe and Asia) lives in warrens consisting of many burrows; this species is the ancestor to all domestic breeds. The 13 North American species called cottontails (genus Sylvilagus) have white on the underside of the tail.