jack rabbit
C1Informal, technical (zoology)
Definition
Meaning
A large North American hare with long ears and powerful hind legs, known for its speed and leaping ability.
Informally, can refer to something that moves very quickly or erratically. Also used in the compound 'jackrabbit start' to describe a vehicle accelerating rapidly from a stop.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a compound of 'jack' (possibly from 'jackass', referring to the long ears) and 'rabbit', though it is technically a hare, not a rabbit. This distinction is important in biological contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The animal is native to North America, so the term is far more common in American English. In British English, it is primarily a known zoological term or appears in media about the American West.
Connotations
In American English, it strongly connotes the arid landscapes of the western and southwestern United States. In British English, it has more exotic or foreign connotations.
Frequency
High frequency in relevant American regional contexts (e.g., wildlife, hunting, Western lore); low frequency in general British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [adj] jack rabbit [verb] across the road.He [verb] like a jack rabbit.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “jackrabbit start”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in marketing: 'Our sales took off with a jackrabbit start.'
Academic
Used in biology/zoology papers discussing Leporidae species, habitats, or ecology.
Everyday
Used when describing wildlife sightings, especially in rural or western US contexts, or describing sudden movement.
Technical
Precise zoological classification: 'Lepus townsendii' (white-tailed) or 'Lepus californicus' (black-tailed).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The car jackrabbited away from the traffic lights, startling pedestrians.
- He jackrabbited out of his seat when he heard the news.
American English
- My old truck can still jackrabbit off the line if I push it.
- She jackrabbited to the front of the queue.
adjective
British English
- He made a jackrabbit move to avoid the cyclist.
- The company's jackrabbit growth was unsustainable.
American English
- That pitcher has a jackrabbit fastball.
- We need to avoid jackrabbit decisions in this market.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a big jack rabbit in the field.
- The jack rabbit has long ears.
- A jack rabbit ran across the desert road in front of our car.
- They are much larger than the rabbits we have in our garden.
- The biologist explained how the jack rabbit's large ears help regulate its body temperature in the desert heat.
- His car is known for its jackrabbit starts, which wear out the clutch quickly.
- The population dynamics of the black-tailed jackrabbit are closely tied to cyclical vegetation patterns in the sagebrush ecosystem.
- The negotiator warned against any jackrabbit reactions to the initial proposal, advocating for measured deliberation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Jack' jumping quickly like the character 'Jack-be-nimble', combined with 'rabbit' for the animal. A jack rabbit is a nimble, jumping hare.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED IS VERTICALITY (the jackrabbit's leap); SUDDENNESS IS A JACKRABBIT START.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'кролик Джек' (Jack the rabbit). It is a specific animal: 'заяц-русак' (brown hare) is a closer ecological analogue, but not exact. The compound is fixed: 'джекрэббит' or descriptive 'большой заяц'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'jackrabbit' to refer to small pet rabbits.
- Misspelling as one word ('jackrabbit') or hyphenated ('jack-rabbit') – both are accepted variants, but 'jack rabbit' is the standard dictionary headword form.
- Confusing it with a 'cottontail' (a true rabbit).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'jackrabbit start' most commonly associated with?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, despite the name, jack rabbits are hares. The key differences include being born fully furred with open eyes (precocial) and generally having longer ears and legs than true rabbits.
They are native to western and central North America, from Canada down to Mexico, typically in open habitats like deserts, prairies, and farmland.
Yes, informally, especially in American English. It means to move or start very suddenly and quickly, e.g., 'The motorbike jackrabbited into the lead.'
All three forms are encountered. Dictionaries often list 'jack rabbit' as the headword, but 'jackrabbit' (closed compound) is very common, especially in American English. 'Jack-rabbit' (hyphenated) is also acceptable.