jackrabbit

[ jak-rab-it ]

adjective

1. resembling a jack rabbit, as in suddenness or rapidity of movement:

   The car made a jackrabbit start when the traffic light turned green.

verb (used without object)

1. to go or start forward with a rapid, sudden movement.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jackrabbit¹

First recorded in 1925–30; jack rabbit

Example Sentences

Grass in the desert is sparse so the fleshy stems and fruits of cactuses are the main source of food for many animals such as jackrabbits and javelinas.

From Popular-Science

I adore my friends, and I love their dogs—they’re hilarious and cute and fun—but I also care for the jackrabbit.

From Outside Online

It’s likely that KDP will give back at least part of the big 1%-plus gain in market share that its jackrabbit moves won in the pandemic, something Wall Street anticipates as evidenced by the stock’s flatline performance over the past year.

From Fortune

The dogs that barked were behind farmhouse gates, and we had use for our stones only at an occasional jackrabbit.

From Project Gutenberg

Only a greyhound or other long-legged dog can beat a jackrabbit running.

From Project Gutenberg

Lepus californicus merriami Mearns: Black-tailed Jackrabbit.

From Project Gutenberg

Ordinarily these dogs, who were also wise beasts, passed by the jackrabbit in his abundance with only inhibited longing.

From Project Gutenberg

A jackrabbit arrested in full flight by a charge of shot turns a very spectacular somersault.

From Project Gutenberg