Category:Hare

Hare, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Harry, Harass.]

Defn: To excite; to tease, or worry; to harry. [Obs.] Locke.

hare Hare, n. Etym: [AS. hara; akin to D. haas, G. hase, OHG. haso, Dan. æ Sw. hare, Icel. h, Skr. .

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A rodent of the genus Lepus, having long hind legs, a short tail, and a divided upper lip. It is a timid animal, moves swiftly by leaps, and is remarkable for its fecundity.

Note: The species of hares are numerous. The common European hare is Lepustimidus. The northern or varying hare of America (L. Americanus), and the prairie hare (L. campestris), turn white in winter. In America, the various species of hares are commonly called rabbits.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A small constellation situated south of and under the foot of Orion; Lepus. Hare and hounds, a game played by men and boys, two, called hares, having a few minutes' start, and scattering bits of paper to indicate their course, being chased by the others, called the hounds, through a wide circuit. -- Hare kangaroo (Zoöl.)., a small Australian kangaroo (Lagorchestes Leporoides), resembling the hare in size and color, -- Hare's lettuce (Bot.), a plant of the genus Sonchus, or sow thistle; -- so called because hares are said to eat it when fainting with heat. Dr. Prior. -- Jumping hare. (Zoöl.) See under Jumping. -- Little chief hare, or Crying hare. (Zoöl.) See Chief hare. -- Sea hare. (Zoöl.) See Aplysia.

-- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Hare - (Heb. 'arnebeth ) was prohibited as food according to the Mosaic law (Leviticus 11:6; Deuteronomy 14:7), "because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof." The habit of this animal is to grind its teeth and move its jaw as if it actually chewed the cud. But, like the coney (q.v.), it is not a ruminant with four (4) stomachs, but a rodent like the squirrel, rat, etc. Moses speaks of it according to appearance. It is interdicted because, though apparently chewing the cud, it did not divide the hoof. There are two species in Syria, (1.) the Lepus Syriacus or Syrian hare, which is like the English hare; and (2.) the Lepus Sinaiticus, or hare of the desert. No rabbits are found in Syria.