subs. (old).—1. A term of contempt: hence RABBIT-SUCKER (i.e., a sucking rabbit) = an innocent fool; ‘Young Unthrifts taking up Goods upon Tick at excessive Rates.’—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785). Cf. POET-SUCKER.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. Hang me up by the heels for a RABBIT-SUCKER. Ibid., 2 Henry IV., ii. 2. Away you whoreson, upright RABBIT, away!
1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight [GROSART, Wks. (1886), iii. 233]. This hearbe beeing chewd downe by the RABBET-SUCKERS almost kils their hearts, and is worse to them then nabbing on the neckes to Connies.
2. (old).—A wooden drinking can: also RABIT.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
1697. The Praise of Yorkshire Ale, 1.
| Strong beer in RABITS, and cheating penny cans, | |
| Three pipes for two pence and such like trepans. |
3. (American).—A rowdy: also DEAD-RABBIT and DEAD-DUCK. [A gang of roughs paraded New York in 1848, carrying dead rabbits and ducks as emblems of victory.]
4. (political).—See quot.
1866. House of Commons Election Commission [Report]. Out of £50 … he had paid a number of rooks and RABBITS.… In general it was stated that “the RABBITS were to work in the burrow and the rooks to make a noise at the public meetings.”
5. (racing).—See quot. and IN AND OUT.
1882. Standard, 3 Sept. Milan, though somewhat of a RABBIT, as a horse that runs ‘in and out’ is sometimes called.
6. (old).—A new-born babe. Whence RABBIT-CATCHER = a midwife.—GROSE (1785).
Verb. (old).—Usually as intj.—Confound it! Also ODSRABBIT! and DRABBIT! cf. DRAT = God rot it! [OD, ’D = God + RABBIT = rot it!]
1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews, III. viii. ‘RABBIT the fellow,’ cries he.
1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, xviii. RABBIT IT! I have forgot the degree.
LIVE RABBIT, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis: see PRICK: also RABBIT-PIE = a whore: see TART. Whence TO SKIN THE LIVE RABBIT (or HAVE A BIT OF RABBIT-PIE) = to copulate: see GREENS and RIDE.
PHRASES.—TO BUY THE RABBIT = to get the worst of a bargain; FAT AND LEAN, LIKE A RABBIT (see quot. 1708–10); TO GO RABBIT-HUNTING WITH A DEAD FERRET = to undertake a business with improper or useless means (RAY, 1760): also see WELSH-RABBIT.
1708–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, I. Col. I am LIKE A RABBIT, fat and lean in Four-and-twenty Hours. Ibid. Lady Smart. … The Man and his Wife are coupled LIKE RABBETS, a fat and a lean; he’s as fat as a Porpus, and she’s one of Pharaoh’s lean kine.
1825. NEAL, Brother Jonathan, II. xv. Keep a civil tongue in your head; or you’ll BUY THE RABBITS. Ibid., xviii. If that air invoice aint ready, soon, thee’ll BUY THE RABBIT, I guess!
