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rabbit
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.
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"rabbit." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rabbit." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-rabbit.html "rabbit." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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 ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "rabbit." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rabbit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rabbit.html "rabbit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rabbit." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-rabbit.html "rabbit." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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 DAVID A. BENDER. "rabbit." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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 T. F. HOAD. "rabbit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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>. DARREL INCE. "rabbit." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-rabbit.html DARREL INCE. "rabbit." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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 MICHAEL ALLABY. "rabbit." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-rabbit.html |
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rabbit
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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"rabbit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rabbit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rabbit.html "rabbit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rabbit.html |
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