Rabbits are delicate, soft-eyed creatures that deserve to be befriended and loved and not slaughtered for meat. They are sensitive to stress and can be harmed by rough handling. They require a large, securely-fitted pet carrier with sufficient ventilation. A rabbit should be accustomed to its carrier so that it will calmly and quickly enter it during transportation.
Anthropomorphized rabbits appear as sympathetic characters in many children’s stories and films (e.g., Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Watership Down). Their reputation as prolific breeders juxtaposes fecundity with innocence; they are also known for their speed and agility, symbolized by such marketing icons as the Energizer Bunny. Rabbits have a number of full-body actions that they use to communicate emotion, including flopping and shaking their heads.
The name “bunny” is used as a nickname for females, especially young girls, in some cultures. In this context, it is usually a form of endearment, as in, I love you, little bunny. However, it may also be disparagingly meant, as in, that girl is a bunny.
In skiing, a bunny slope is a short, easy-to-ski trail that does not count toward the skier’s season total or is designed for beginners. The slang term bunny is also used to refer to a brash or inexperienced person, or a rash decision. The word bunny is related to the surname Bunning, which originated in Australia in the nineteenth century as an Australian-English version of Bunyer, which derives from the Aboriginal word meaning “thunderbolt”. The spelling varies: In the United States, it is usually buny or bunns.