bunny
[ buhn-ee ]
/ ˈbʌn i /
noun, plural bun·nies.
Informal. a rabbit, especially a small or young one.
Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a pretty, appealing, or alluring young woman, often one ostensibly engaged in a sport or similar activity: beach bunny; ski bunny.
Chiefly British. a squirrel.
Australian and New Zealand Slang. a person imposed upon or made a fool of; victim.
adjective
designed for or used by beginners in skiing: a bunny slope.
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What’s The Difference Between A Bunny, A Rabbit, And A Hare?Let’s start with the two that have scientific names. Hares and rabbits are both in the family Leporidae, but they’re separate species. Both animals have long ears, powerful back legs, and a divided upper lip. But, hares are larger than rabbits. And, instead of creating burrows, hares make nests in the grass. The exposed nesting sites of hares hint at another big difference—when they’re born. Hares are precocial, …
Nearby words
Origin of bunny
1600–10, Americanism; dial. bun (tail of a) hare or rabbit, in Scots: buttocks (< Scots Gaelic bun bottom) + -y2
Usage note
The meaning “pretty woman” is sometimes used with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting. For instance, a beach bunny is an alluring female who frequents the beach only to meet male surfers. But bunny was originally (and still is) used as a term of endearment for a girl or young woman.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for bunny
British Dictionary definitions for bunny
bunny
/ (ˈbʌnɪ) /
noun plural -nies
Also called: bunny rabbit a child's word for rabbit (def. 1)
Also called: bunny girl a night-club hostess whose costume includes rabbit-like tail and ears
Australian informal a mug; dupe
slang a devotee of a specified pastime or activitygym bunny; disco bunny
British slang talk, esp when inconsequential; chatter
not a happy bunny British slang deeply dissatisfied or discontented
Word Origin for bunny
C17: from Scottish Gaelic bun scut of a rabbit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for bunny
bunny
1680s, diminutive of Scottish dialectal bun, pet name for "rabbit," previously (1580s) for "squirrel," and also a term of endearment for a young attractive woman or child (c.1600). Ultimately it could be from Scottish bun "tail of a hare" (1530s), or from French bon, or from a Scandinavian source. The Playboy Club hostess sense is from 1960. The Bunny Hug (1912), along with the foxtrot and the Wilson glide, were among the popular/scandalous dances of the ragtime era.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper