rabbit-punchv.
/ˈrabɪtˌpʌn(t)ʃ/, U.S. /ˈræbətˌpən(t)ʃ/ transitive. To hit (someone) with a rabbit punch. Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking on specific part of the body > strike on specific part of body [verb (transitive)] > on the neck
neckc1429
nape1440
rabbit-punch1920
1920 Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail 18 Feb. 10/1 Serra..waded in..jabbing and hooking his head and body and rabbit-punching with effect.
1940 D. Thomas Portrait of Artist as Young Dog 72 The strange boy rabbit-punched me twice.
1970 R. Allen Skinhead vii. 71 Swinging into action, he vaulted the prostrate Albert, rabbit-punched Billy to his knees.
1994 Toronto Star 9 July h5/2 Run into the house and see if you can rabbit-punch the burglar.
Derivatives
ˈrabbit-punching adj. and n.
ΚΠ
1925 Fresno (Calif.) Bee 22 July 11/1 Edmunds also resorted to rabbit punching.
1968 T. Stoppard Real Inspector Hound (1970) 11 I dream of champions chopped down by rabbit-punching sparring partners.
2004 Dallas Morning News (Nexis) 10 Sept. 9 h It's a candid, behind-the-scenes study in..brutal, rabbit-punching politics.
2006 Philadelphia Daily News (Nexis) 12 Dec. 5 They do the same kind of eye-gouging and rabbit-punching that is done in back rooms everywhere.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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