jackrabbit

views updated Jun 27 2018

jack·rab·bit / ˈjakˌrabət/ • n. a hare found in open country in western North America. Several species include the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus).ORIGIN: mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of jackass-rabbit, because of its long ears.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

jackrabbit

views updated May 23 2018

jackrabbit a hare found on the prairies and steppes of North America, sometimes taken as a type of swift-footedness. The name is a contraction of jackass-rabbit, so called from its long ears.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

jackrabbit

All Sources -
Updated Aug 24 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like