First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
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
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
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
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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
2rabbit
verb
Definition of RABBIT
intransitive verb
: to hunt rabbits
— rab·bit·er noun
See rabbit defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of RABBIT
1846
RABBITER Defined for Kids
rabbit
noun rab·bit \ˈra-bət\
Definition of RABBIT for Kids
: a short-tailed mammal that has soft fur and long ears and hind legs and digs burrows
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