jackrabbit

On this page

• Definition of the noun “jackrabbit”
• Origins of the noun “jackrabbit”
• “Jackrabbit” used as a verb
• “Jackrabbit” used as an adjective
• Spelling of “jackrabbit”

Definition of the noun “jackrabbit”

Despite what the name suggests, a jackrabbit isn’t a rabbit at all. It’s actually a large hare that lives in the western part of North America. Hares are bigger than rabbits and have longer ears and longer back legs.

Origins of the noun “jackrabbit”

The origins of the word jackrabbit can be traced back to 1863. The term jackass rabbit was used to refer to this furry creature because its ears resembled those of a male donkey. The name was later shortened to the portmanteau jackrabbit.

“Jackrabbit” used as a verb

Jackrabbit can be used as a verb meaning “to move forward suddenly or quickly”:

• When she realized she was late, she grabbed her bag and jackrabbited out of the house.

“Jackrabbit” used as an adjective

The word jackrabbit can also be used as an adjective to describe something characterized by sudden or quick movement:

• The dragster floored the accelerator and took the lead with a jackrabbit start.

Spelling of “jackrabbit”

The word jackrabbit is most frequently spelled as one word. However, it’s sometimes spelled as two separate words (jack rabbit) or as two words joined by a hyphen (jack-rabbit).

• The white-tailed jackrabbit, also known as the Prairie hare, is found in the Southern Prairies and Okanagan Valley.
• The Jackrabbit Ski League program is named after Herman Smith-Johannsen, whose nickname was Jackrabbit.