rab·bit  (răb ĭt)
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n. pl. rab·bitsor rabbit 1. Any of various long-eared, short-tailed, burrowing mammals of the family Leporidae, such as the commonly domesticated species Oryctolagus cuniculus, native to Europe and widely introduced elsewhere, or the cottontail of the Americas. 2. A hare. 3. The flesh of a rabbit, used as food. 4. The fur of a rabbit or hare. 5. Sports a. A competitor who is designated to set a fast pace for a teammate during a long-distance race. b. A racehorse that is run at a fast pace early in a race in order to tire the favorite so that another horse can take the lead. c. A mechanical decoy that is propelled around the track in a greyhound race to incite the dogs. intr.v. rab·bit·ed, rab·bit·ing, rab·bits To hunt rabbits or hares.
[Middle English rabet, rabbit kit, young rabbit, probably from Middle French *robotte, *rabotte (compare Modern French regional rabotte and Walloon robete, rabit) : Middle Dutch *robbe, rabbit (attested in early Modern Dutch robbe, perhaps akin to Middle Dutch robbe, seal, of unknown origin) + Middle French -otte, feminine of -ot, diminutive suffix (from Old French).] |
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