cottontail

[kot-n-teyl]

noun

1. any small North American rabbit of the genus Sylvilagus, having a brownish coat and fluffy white tail. tails.

cottontail

/ ˈkɒtənˌteɪl /

noun

1. any of several common rabbits of the genus Sylvilagus, such as S. floridanus ( eastern cottontail ), of American woodlands

Word History and Origins

Origin of cottontail¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; cotton + tail ¹

Example Sentences

Each morning, I knew when to scan the trails for cottontails just starting their day.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The one that the public will soon see there, however, isn’t a typical little brown cottontail.

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Each morning, I knew when to scan the trails for cottontails just starting their days.

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Listed as threatened since 1990, these long-lived reptiles don’t live alone; they can dig up to 25 burrows a year—and share the space with creatures from geckos to cottontails.

Read more on National Geographic

More damaging were the rabbits, specifically Eastern cottontails.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• bunny 
• coney 
• cony 
• hare 
• lagomorph 
• lapin