# A punch to the back of the neck is named after what animal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463 "2012-02-01T21:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/21 "2012-02-01T22:18:44Z")
> [@smaje1](#): > > **A punch to the back of the neck is named after what animal?** “Rabbit Punch”. I know because I looked it up fairly recently when making a City of Heroes character, a melee fighter named Rabbit Punch who is a rabbit-girl who, well, punches people a lot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/22 "2012-02-01T22:50:50Z")
> [@smaje1](#): > > but I’m interested to know how many Dopers know the right answer I’ve never heard of the term “rabbit punch”. I don’t know what answer I’d have given to the question. Just some random animal I suppose. Dog? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/23 "2012-02-01T23:01:01Z")
I’ve heard of a rabbit punch and know what it is. I would have answered donkey, though because … well, no good reason. Donkey punch is just set as my default term for that action. I contend, and have right here on the Dope, that the reason the sex term is “donkey punch” is because “donkey” is a naturally degrading modifier (and a donkey punch is certainly a degrading act) for just about any noun. Except cheese. donkey cheese is alright in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/24 "2012-02-01T23:12:54Z")
Rabbit punch: back of the neck. Donkey punch: back of the head. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/25 "2012-02-01T23:20:42Z")
Never heard of a donkey punch, and I’ve been following boxing since the 60s. Rabbit punch almost always refers to a blow to the back of the neck or head, although sometimes it also refers to a punch to the kidneys in a clinch. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/26 "2012-02-01T23:24:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Never heard of a donkey punch, and I’ve been following boxing since the 60s. Rabbit punch almost always refers to a blow to the back of the neck or head, although sometimes it also refers to a punch to the kidneys in a clinch. Donkey punch isn’t a boxing term. Kidney punches should be called kidney punches, but the commentators do say that sometimes. The etymology may refer to the back of the neck, but in boxing it applies to the back of the head as well. (I’m sure you know this stuff if you’re a boxing fan, just putting it out there for the others) ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/27 "2012-02-01T23:30:05Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Rabbit Punch. A sharp blow to the back of the neck. > > A rabbit punch derives from the method used by gamekeepers to dispatch a rabbit which they have caught. Think of holding a rabbit in one hand and striking its neck with the edge of your other hand. The term appears to date from the 17th century but I haven’t accessed Oxford for the full etymology. So back to the donkey punch - Where do you hit a donkey to kill it? I’ve been punching my donkey all day and it ain’t dead yet. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/28 "2012-02-01T23:44:02Z")
Rabbit Punch = back of the neck Donkey Punch = throat Why, oh why would you punch someone in the throat? Always seemed mean as hell to me and I never saw anyone punched in the throat but by golly we had a name for it. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/29 "2012-02-02T00:05:49Z")
“No rabbit punches. No kidney punches. No low blows. I wanna see a nice clean fight.” Referee at the beginning of the majority of boxing matches. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/30 "2012-02-02T00:09:11Z")
The question is: Does a donkey punch actually work like its supposed to? Any Dopers want to volunteer answers if they’ve tested it out themselves? ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/31 "2012-02-02T00:13:56Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I always thought a rabbit punch was a punch to the kidneys while in a clinch. > > Learned something new today, I did. > [@lisiate](#): > > I thought rabbits went for the kidneys too. > > I’d have answered donkey without a second thought. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who thought that a rabbit punch was a short sharp blow to the kidneys. I went hunting for it and there are quite a few sites which note that the kidney punch is also known as a rabbit punch. As to the OP, my initial answer would have also been ‘donkey’. 😃 But in my defence, I thought a rabbit punch meant to the kidneys. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/32 "2012-02-02T00:15:36Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > Why, oh why would you punch someone in the throat? Always seemed mean as hell to me and I never saw anyone punched in the throat but by golly we had a name for it. Cause it frigging hurts? ☹ 😉 So says the guy that copped a paintball in the throat at point blank range despite having a full face mask on. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/33 "2012-02-02T01:09:27Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > It’s good to know I’m not the only one who thought that a rabbit punch was a short sharp blow to the kidneys. That’s what I thought it was too. I’ve never heard of a rabbit punch as being to the neck or the head. I’ve only heard it as a kidney shot. Put me in the perv donkey column as well. ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/34 "2012-02-02T01:23:59Z")
Never heard of donkey punch. Rabbit punch being one to the back of the neck is what it has meant in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/35 "2012-02-02T01:24:49Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > Rabbit Punch = back of the neck > Donkey Punch = throat > > Why, oh why would you punch someone in the throat? Always seemed mean as hell to me and I never saw anyone punched in the throat but by golly we had a name for it. My dad’s advice if I ever got in a fight: “Punch them in the throat, then run like hell.” Never actually put it into practice myself. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/36 "2012-02-02T02:15:50Z")
So it’s not a monkey punch, then? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/37 "2012-02-02T02:18:56Z")
It’s a generational thing. Originally, back around the early 20th Century, a rabbit punch was a punch to the back of the neck, the way you killed rabbits. When I was growing up in the 1940s-1960s, it was to the kidneys. Donkey Punch is way modern. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/38 "2012-02-02T02:34:02Z")
I’ve never heard of either term. Forced to answer, I would have said _a Bertuzzi_, just for the laughs ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/39 "2012-02-02T02:36:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s a rabbit punch. The only explanation I’ve heard is that rabbit punching is often a series of small rapid punches to the back of the head or neck, similar to a rabbit’s defensive motion with it’s rear feet if you grab it. I’ve heard of a rabbit punch as being small rapid punches. Never heard that it was to any particular target, though. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/40 "2012-02-02T02:58:42Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > “No rabbit punches. No kidney punches. No low blows. I wanna see a nice clean fight.” > > Referee at the beginning of the majority of boxing matches. I think the operative word is “commonly”. For years and years the boxing referee used to give final instructions in the ring and what \*\*drastic\_quench \*\* quotes is what was heard over an over to anyone who ever watched boxing at all. It was a common instruction and almost everyone had heard it. Nowadays, the referee usually says something like “You know the rules, let’s have a clean fight, now touch gloves.” Rabbit punches are against the rules as are kidney punches because they both come from behind but they are actually different. It’s easy to see how the definition could morph. So, going along with **drastic\_quench** ’s quote, I would agree that a punch to the neck is commonly known as a rabbit punch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463.md?page=3)