1. [n]  swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
2. [n]  flesh of any of various rabbits or hares (wild or domesticated) eaten as food
3. [v]  run quickly; "He hared down the hill"

1. \Hare\, v. t. [Cf. {Harry}, {Harass}.]
   To excite; to tease, or worry; to harry. [Obs.] --Locke.
   

2. \Hare\, n. [AS. hara; akin to D. haas, G. hase, OHG. haso,
   Dan. [ae] Sw. hare, Icel. h?ri, Skr. ?a?a. ?.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) 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.) 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} (Zo["o]l.)., 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}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Jumping}.
   {Little chief hare}, or {Crying hare}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Chief
      hare}.
   {Sea hare}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Aplysia}.
   

(Heb. 'arnebeth) was prohibited as food according to the Mosaic law (Lev. 11:6; Deut. 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 cony (q.v.), it is not a ruminant with four 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.