¹rabbit

noun, rab·bit often attributive \ˈra-bət\

: a small animal that usually lives in holes in the ground and has long ears, soft fur, and back legs that are longer than its front legs

: the fur or meat of a rabbit

plural rabbit or rabbits

Full Definition of RABBIT

: 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

: the pelt of a rabbit

: welsh rabbit

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

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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