A large North American hare with long ears and powerful hind legs, known for making sudden, bouncing leaps to escape danger.
From 'jack' (a male animal or diminutive prefix) plus 'rabbit,' though it's actually a hare, not a rabbit. The name emerged in the 1850s in American English. The 'jack' may come from 'jackass,' referring to its large ears.
Jackrabbits aren't actually rabbits—they're hares—but nobody cares! The confusion persists because we named them before we got picky about the distinction. Their enormous ears act as radiators to dump heat in the desert, which is why they're so enormous compared to regular rabbits.
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