ˈræbɪt n. & v. --n. 1 a
any of
various burrowing
gregarious plant-eating mammals of
the hare family,
esp. Oryctolagus cuniculus,
with long ears
and a
short tail, varying in
colour from brown in the
wild to
black and
white, and
kept as a pet or
for meat. b US a hare. c the
fur of the rabbit. 2
Brit. colloq. a
poor performer in any
sport or game. --v.intr. (rabbited, rabbiting) 1
hunt rabbits. 2 (often foll. by
on, away) Brit. colloq.
talk excessively or pointlessly;
chatter (rabbiting on
about his holiday). ørabbit punch a short chop with the
edge of the
hand to the
nape of the
neck. rabbit
warren an
area in
which rabbits
have their burrows, or are kept for meat etc. øørabbity adj. [ME perh. f.
OF:
cf. F
dial. rabotte,
Walloon robëte, Flem. robbe]