cottontail

[ kot-n-teyl ]

/ ˈkɒt nˌteɪl /

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

Origin of cottontail

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; cotton + tail¹

The snowshoe rabbit replaces the cottontail in Canada and the most northern portions of the United States.

Science of Trapping |Elmer Harry Kreps
Cottontail rabbits huddled in their burrows and snowshoe hares crept about in the thickets.

The Black Fawn |James Arthur Kjelgaard
Andy peered between the slats of one crate at two brown-furred animals about as big as cottontail rabbits.

Swamp Cat |James Arthur Kjelgaard
On seven occasions a cottontail used a form that had been used by another within 24 hours.

Home Range and Movements of the Eastern Cottontail in Kansas |Donald W. Janes

And, sure enough, they started a cottontail down there and went in for him keenly, followed by ma and brother and sister.

Somewhere in Red Gap |Harry Leon Wilson

cottontail

/ (ˈkɒtənˌteɪl) /

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