cottontail

noun

cot·​ton·​tail ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌtāl 

: any of several rather small North American rabbits (genus Sylvilagus) sandy to grayish brown in color with a white-tufted underside of the tail

Examples of cottontail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Take a seat for a round-the-clock show: the ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbits, waterfowl and occasional muskrats that wander about, lured by the lake. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

The Marsh Rabbit is a semi-aquatic cottontail rabbit that is found in the swamps and marshes of coastal areas of the southeastern United States of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. —Stan Tekiela, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2024

The cottontail rabbits that are brought to the rehabilitation center often don't have an obvious injury or visible blood. —Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2024

If a young cottontail is truly abandoned or injured, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cottontail

• abigail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale
• yellowtail

Kids Definition

cottontail

noun

cot·​ton·​tail ˈkät-ᵊn-ˌtāl 

: any of several small brownish gray rabbits with a fluffy tail that is white on the underside