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rabbit

rabbit

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

rabbit name for herbivorous mammals of the family Leporidae, which also includes the hare and the pika . Rabbits and hares have large front teeth, short tails, and large hind legs and feet adapted for running or jumping. In most, the length of the ears is considerably greater than the width. Although usage varies, the term rabbit generally refers to small, running animals, with relatively short ears and legs, which give birth to blind, naked young, while hare refers to larger, hopping forms, with longer ears and legs, whose young are born furred and open-eyed. Rabbits are chiefly nocturnal, although they are sometimes seen in the daytime. They have acute senses of smell and hearing. They feed on a wide variety of vegetation and are responsible in many areas for the stunted nature of the ground cover. When feeding on green herbage, rabbits, like hares, excrete soft pellets which they reingest; the waste products of the redigested food are excreted as dry pellets. Wild rabbits are frequently infected with tularemia , which is dangerous to humans.

The European Common Rabbit

The European common rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is native to S Europe and Africa, but is now found, in its domestic varieties, throughout the world; wild varieties have also been introduced in some places, such as England. All domestic rabbits, including the so-called Belgian hare, belong to this species. Wild common rabbits are up to 16 in. (41 cm) long and usually weigh 2 to 3 lb (0.9-1.4 kg). They have soft, thick fur, usually grayish brown above and white below. The tail is usually carried upright when the animal runs, exposing the white undersurface. Common rabbits live in elaborate systems of adjoining burrows called warrens. The young are suckled in a special burrow, dug by the mother at a distance from the warren and lined with a nest of her own fur. The entrance to this burrow is plugged with earth when she is away. Domestic rabbits, which may be various colors but are commonly white, are bred for food and for their fur, which is much used in making fur trim and felt. They are also frequently used as laboratory animals and are kept as pets.

New World Rabbits

The New World genus Sylvilagus includes the many species of cottontail rabbit , which resemble the European rabbit in appearance, as well as the marsh rabbit and swamp rabbit ( Sylvilagus palustris and S. aquaticus, respectively), of the S United States. These rabbits do not burrow, although in winter they may shelter in a burrow abandoned by another animal. They usually rest, like hares, in hollows which they make in the ground or in vegetation. The Idaho pygmy rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis, of the U.S. Great Basin, digs simple burrows. The many North American species called jackrabbit are actually hares, as is the snowshoe rabbit, or varying hare . There are several species of short-eared rabbits in Asia and one, the volcano rabbit, or Mexican pygmy rabbit ( Romerolagus diazi ), in central Mexico, where it is in danger of extinction.

Reproduction

The reproductive rate of rabbits is notorious. The common rabbit breeds from February to October; its gestation period is 30 days and there are five to eight young in a litter. In most regions its numbers are kept down by its many predators, such as the fox, the badger, and birds of prey. However, when domestic rabbits escaped in Australia, where they had few natural enemies, they ran rampant and stripped the countryside of vegetation in many regions. They were brought partially under control by the artificial introduction of a viral disease, myxomatosis.

Classification

Rabbits are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Lagomorpha, family Leporidae.

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rabbit

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

rabbit the rabbit is often taken to typify timidity and the word is used for someone who is a poor performer in a sport; the animal is also noted for its prolific breeding.

In North American usage, rabbit may be used as a term for hare, and be taken as a type of speed in running ( John Updike's character Harry ‘Rabbit’ Angstrom derives his nickname from this).
Brer Rabbit the hero of many of the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris, which typically centre on the unavailing efforts of Brer Fox to outwit and catch the cunning Brer Rabbit.
pull a rabbit out of a hat achieve an action that is fortuitous, and may involve sleight of hand or deception; the reference is to a stage conjuror making a rabbit appear (or disappear).
rabbit's foot traditionally taken as a good-luck charm (the word rabbits spoken on the first day of the month, was supposed to bring good luck). Rabbits are also alluded to as typically made to appear or disappear by a conjuror.

See also Peter Rabbit at Peter2, White Rabbit at white.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "rabbit." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "rabbit." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-rabbit.html

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rabbit

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

rab·bit / ˈrabit/ • n. a burrowing, gregarious, plant-eating mammal (family Leporidae) with long ears, long hind legs, and a short tail. ∎  the fur of the rabbit. ∎  another term for hare. ∎  a runner who acts as pacesetter in the first laps of a race. • v. (rabbited , rabbiting ) [intr.] hunt rabbits. PHRASES: pull a rabbit out of the hat used to describe an action that is fortuitous, and may involve sleight of hand or deception.DERIVATIVES: rab·bit·y adj. ORIGIN: late Middle English: apparently from Old French (compare French dialect rabotte ‘young rabbit’), perhaps of Dutch origin (compare Flemish robbe).

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rabbit

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

rabbit Long-eared, herbivorous mammal of the family Leporidae, including the European common rabbit and the American cottontail. The common rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, has thick, soft, greyish-brown fur. The wide variety of domesticated rabbits are also of this species. Length: 35–45cm (14–18in); weight: 1.4–2.3kg (3–5lb). See also hare
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rabbit

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

rabbit Lepus cuniculus; both wild and farmed rabbits are eaten. A 150‐g portion is a rich source of protein, niacin, vitamins B2, B6, and B12, selenium, and iron; a source of vitamin B1, zinc, and copper; contains about 12 g of fat, of which about 40% is saturated and 20% mono‐unsaturated; supplies 270 kcal (1100 kJ).
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DAVID A. BENDER. "rabbit." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "rabbit." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-rabbit.html

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rabbit

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

rabbit XIV (orig. applied to the young). ME. rabet(te), perh. — an OF. form repr. by dial. F. rabotte, rabouillet young rabbit, poss. of LG. or Du. orig. (cf. Flem. robbe, Du. †robett).
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T. F. HOAD. "rabbit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "rabbit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rabbit.html

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rabbit

A Dictionary of the Internet | 2001 | | Copyright

rabbit A term sometimes used for a RABBIT PROGRAM.
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DARREL INCE. "rabbit." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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rabbit

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

rabbit See LEPORIDAE.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "rabbit." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "rabbit." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-rabbit.html

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rabbit

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

rabbit •acquit, admit, backlit, bedsit, befit, bit, Brit, Britt, chit, commit, demit, dit, emit, fit, flit, frit, git, grit, hit, intermit, it, kit, knit, legit, lickety-split, lit, manumit, mishit, mitt, nit, omit, outsit, outwit, permit, pit, Pitt, pretermit, quit, remit, retrofit, shit, sit, skit, slit, snit, spit, split, sprit, squit, submit, tit, transmit, twit, whit, wit, writ, zit •albeit, howbeit •poet •bluet, cruet, intuit, suet, Yuit •Inuit • floruit • Jesuit •Babbitt, cohabit, habit, rabbet, rabbit •ambit, gambit •jackrabbit • barbet • Nesbit • rarebit •adhibit, exhibit, gibbet, inhibit, prohibit •titbit (US tidbit) • flibbertigibbet •Cobbett, gobbet, hobbit, obit, probit •orbit • Tobit •cubit, two-bit •hatchet, latchet, ratchet •Pritchett •crotchet, rochet

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Rabbits: Hare Raising!(raising rabbits )
Magazine article from: Hopscotch; 2/1/1999
Rabbit Rescue Group Urges Public to Buy Stuffed Bunnies this Easter; Blames...
PR Newswire; 4/17/2003
Pet rabbits should not be prisoners.
News Wire article from: M2 Presswire; 5/25/2011

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rabbit. (Image by Lmbuga, GFDL)

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