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). rabbit 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. rabbity adj.
[ ME perh. f. OF: cf. F dial. rabotte, Walloon robète, Flem. robbe ]