[Ads-l] Bunnies

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

As JL mentioned there is an entry for "bunny" in the Random House
Historical Dictionary of American Slang. The citation is from 1970.

[Begin excerpt]
bunny 4.a Basketball. a short, easy shot.
1970 in Wimmer Schoolyard Game 59: I spun in a little left-handed
bunny, using English.
[End excerpt]

Some quick searches in newspapers.com suggest that the history of
bunny/bunnies is surprisingly long. The phrase "bunny shot" was used
in the basketball domain by 1925.

Date: March 10, 1925
Newspaper: The Kentucky Post
Newspaper Location: Covington, Kentucky
Article: N.C.G Cats Win And 'Y' Senators Lose In Tourney
Quote Page 2, Column 1
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/760415693/?terms=bunny&match=1

[Begin excerpt]
The deciding goal of the game was caged by Arnzen, who ribbled thru
from center for a "bunny" shot.
[End excerpt]

Here is another example of "bunny shot" from the same newspaper in 1925.

Date: December 27, 1925
Newspaper: The Kentucky Post
Newspaper Location: Covington, Kentucky
Article: Bearcats Trim Gym Blues With Ease
Author: Tom Swope
Quote Page 9, Column 4
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/760839697/?terms=bunny&match=1

[Begin excerpt]
The Gyms were guarded so closely they showed no passwork to speak of
in the first half, but in the second their game improved, and Trester,
who laid under the basket, got many a bunny shot, but was off in his
aim and caged only a few of them.
[End excerpt]

The plural noun "bunnies" (without "shot") appeared by 1930.

Date: January 17, 1930
Newspaper:  The Dayton Herald
Newspaper Location: Dayton, Ohio
Article: Dayton Flyers Defeated In Overtime Contest By Bliss College
Author: Art Routzohn
Quote Page 27, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/391763324/?terms=bunnies&match=1

[Begin excerpt]
Joe Andras was high point man with four buckets and one foul, but
missed many "bunnies".
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 2:14 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Should be in HDAS too. I heard it in 1974-75.
>
> JL
>
> On Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 11:32 AM ADSGarson O'Toole <
> adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Here are some definitions for "bunny" in the basketball domain:
> >
> > Collins Dictionary
> > https://www.collinsdictionary.com/submission/9584/Bunny+Shot
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > Bunny Shot
> > New Word Suggestion
> > [US basketball] An open shot which isn't challenged by a defender;
> > usually a LAYUP or DUNK when the offensive player has a breakaway
> > Submitted By: Unknown - 14/05/2013
> > Status: This word is being monitored for evidence of usage.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Glossary of WNBA Terms
> > https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/about_us/glossary.html
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > Bunny: An open, uncontested shot, usually a layup or dunk. Also: snowbird.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Merriam Webster
> > https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bunny
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > bunny noun
> > Sense 3: basketball, informal : an easy shot (such as a layup) taken
> > close to the basket
> > Example: He missed a handful of bunnies around the basket.
> > —Jeff Greer
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Garson
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 9:31 AM Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > A bunny refers to an undefended shot, but usually a short jump shot.
> > >
> > > On Sun, Nov 26, 2023, 9:52 PM victor steinbok <aardvark66 at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Pro-sports lingo is often hard for me to understand. But this one
> > jumped
> > > > out at me, no pun intended.
> > > >
> > > > Somebody needs to ask Bobby Portis if Bunny = Jump shot:
> > > >
> > > > "Things weren't going our way. We're missing bunnies, missing layups,
> > > > turning the ball over, but we had a chance to watch some things at
> > half,
> > > > correct some things and then go out there in the second half and give
> > it
> > > > our all."
> > > >
> > > > Or am I missing something more obvious?
> > > >
> > > > Victor-)
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
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> > > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
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