rabbit punch
Noun: A short, sharp, chopping blow delivered to the back of a person's neck or the base of the skull.
This term is used almost exclusively in the context of boxing, martial arts, or illegal/unfair fighting. It describes a specific, dangerous type of strike. Because it targets a vulnerable area of the spine, a rabbit punch is considered illegal in most organized combat sports due to the high risk of serious injury.
- The referee immediately disqualified the boxer for delivering a rabbit punch.
- In a street fight, he was knocked unconscious by a vicious rabbit punch from behind.
- The rules clearly state that any rabbit punch will result in a point deduction.
- As a verb (to rabbit-punch): The action of striking someone with a rabbit punch. (Note: This is a compound verb derived from the noun).
- The fighter was warned not to rabbit-punch his opponent when they were clinched.
- Illegal blow: A general term for any strike that breaks the rules of a sport.
- Foul: The act of breaking the rules, which can include a rabbit punch.
- Chopping blow: A descriptive term for the motion of the strike.
- Illegal strike to the neck
- Blow to the back of the head/neck (descriptive synonym)
The term "rabbit punch" originates from the method used to kill rabbits with a quick, sharp blow to the back of the neck. This etymology directly informs its modern meaning as a swift, chopping strike to the same vulnerable area on a human. It carries a strong connotation of being unsportsmanlike, dangerous, and potentially lethal.
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a short chopping blow to the back of the neck