rabbit1 (rabit)

[Early mod. E. also rab bate, rabet; 4924 bits).] 1. A rodent mammal, Lepus cuniculus, of the hare family, Leporidæ; a kind of hare notable for burrowing in the ground. This animal is indigenous to Europe, but has been naturalized in many other countries, and is the original of all the domestic breeds. It is smaller than the common hare of Europe, L. timid us or variabilis, with shorter ears Rabbit (white lop-eared variety). and limbs. The natural color is brownish, but in domestication black, gray, white, and pied individuals are found. The ears are naturally erect, but in some breeds they fall; such rabbits are called lopped or lop - eared, and degrees of lopping of the ears are named half - lops and full - lops. Rabbits breed in their burrows or warrens, and also freely in hutches: they are very prolific, bringing forth several times a year, usually six or eight at a litter, and in some countries where they have been naturalized they multiply so rapidly as to become a pest, as in Australia for example. The fur is used in the manufacture of hats and for other purposes, and the flesh is esteemed for food. Hence-2. Any hare; a leporid, or any member of the Leporid a. The common gray rabbit or wood-rabbit of the United States is L. sylvatic us, also called cotton tail and molly cottontail, a variety of which (or a closely related species) is the sage-rabbit of western North America, L.artemisia. The marsh-rabbit is L. palustris; the swamp rabbit of the Southern States is L. aquatic us. Various large long-eared and long-limbed hares of western North America are called jack - rabbits or jacka - rabbits. The South American rabbit or hare is the tapeti, L. bras i liens is. See cuts under cottontail, jack - rabbit, and hare. -Native rabbit, in Australia, a long-eared kind of bandicoot, Ma crotis lagotis.-Snow-shoe rabbit, that variety of the American varying hare which is found in the Rocky Mountains. It turns white in winter, and at that season the fur of the feet is very heavy. It has been described as a distinct species, Lepus bairdi, but is better treated as a local race of L. american us. - Welsh rabbit. [A term of jocular origin, formed after the fashion of Nor folk capon, a red herring, etc. (see quotation). Owing to an absurd notion that rabbit in this phrase is a corruption of rarebit (as if 'a rare bit'), the word is often so written.] Cheese melted with a little ale, and poured over slices of hot toast. Cream, mustard, or Worcesters hire sauce are occasionally added. The name has been given to cheese toasted but not entirely melted, and laid on toast. Welsh rabbit is a genuine slang term, belonging to a large group which describe in the same humorous way the special dish or product or peculiarity of a particular district. For examples: an E ex lion is a calf; a Field lane duck is a baked sheep's head; Glasgow magistrates or Norfolk capons are red herrings; Irish apricots or Munster plums are potatoes; Grave send sweetmeats are shrimps. Mac mill an's Mag. rabble ground over large tracts. It furnishes a safe retreat for the large jack-rabbits of the plains. It is a disagreeably scented plant, with numerous bushy branches which are more or le whitened by a close tomentum, narrow leaves, and yellow flowers. There are 4 or 5 well-marked varieties, differing chiefly in the width of the leaves, in the degree of whitene , and in size. rabbit ear (rab'it-er), n. A long slender oyster; a razor blade. rabbit-eared (rab'it-erd), a. Having long or large ears, like those of a rabbit; lagotic: as, the rabbit - cared bandicoot or native rabbit of Australia, Macrotis lagotis.