# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/41 "2012-02-02T03:11:16Z")
> [@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. I occasionally make these amazing cookies (people have called them a “spiritual experience.”) It’s a pretty normal chocolate chip cookie recipe with toasted pecans, only I replace about 1/3 cup flour with an equal amount of Turkish-ground coffee. The cookies are chewy and almost bitter, and the coffee aroma is all over your head. I’ve always called them Rabbit Punch cookies, “because eating too many is like a blow to the kidneys.” I’m another person glad to hear that rabbit punches can be kidney blows, because otherwise my lame joke would have been even lamer. (re: the OP, put me down as another donkey perv.) ---
**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 2, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/42 "2012-02-02T03:20:27Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’ve heard of a rabbit punch as being small rapid punches. Never heard that it was to any particular target, though. Yeah. It sounds to me like that is one of those things, the name of which I can’t recall, where a modern explanation is retrofitted to an old term. I’ve seen the actual motion from rabbits grabbed from the front where they’ll rapidly kick with their back legs in unison. So it’s an apt description. But the technical term, as a blow to the back of the neck makes more sense as a way to dispatch a rabbit. ---
**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, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/43 "2012-02-02T03:41:07Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yeah. It sounds to me like that is one of those things, the name of which I can’t recall, where a modern explanation is retrofitted to an old term. I’ve seen the actual motion from rabbits grabbed from the front where they’ll rapidly kick with their back legs in unison. So it’s an apt description. But the technical term, as a blow to the back of the neck makes more sense as a way to dispatch a rabbit. _backronymn_ is one. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/44 "2012-02-02T03:48:59Z")
I’d heard the term rabbit punch (maybe just in that one Far Side cartoon), but never knew what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/45 "2012-02-02T03:49:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Never heard of a donkey punch, and I’ve been following boxing since the 60s. That’s be one hell of a boxing match. ---
**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 2, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/46 "2012-02-02T03:53:26Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > _backronymn_ is one. Thanks. [Backronym](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym) led me to [retronym](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronym), and [false etymology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_etymology). None of those are exactly the right term, leaving only [urban legend](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_legend)as the term that fits. Urban legend connotes something more to me, usually a moralistic story or something. But this is like the etymology of _honeymoon_ or _rule of thumb_, which is also covered under urban legends. I feel like it should have it’s own word. How about _neotymology_? ETA: And of course, there should be some fictional etymology for _neotymology_. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/47 "2012-02-02T05:00:26Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I occasionally make these amazing cookies (people have called them a “spiritual experience.”) It’s a pretty normal chocolate chip cookie recipe with toasted pecans, only I replace about 1/3 cup flour with an equal amount of Turkish-ground coffee. The cookies are chewy and almost bitter, and the coffee aroma is all over your head. > > I’ve always called them Rabbit Punch cookies, “because eating too many is like a blow to the kidneys.” I’m another person glad to hear that rabbit punches can be kidney blows, because otherwise my lame joke would have been even lamer. > > (re: the OP, put me down as another donkey perv.) So what would be in a donkey punch cookie? ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/48 "2012-02-02T07:13:53Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > ETA: Maybe you could give us the donkey punch etymology also. Ha! I’ll leave that to a more learned Doper. I only came across the term a couple of years ago and had to google it. Not exactly common parlance - at least in my circles. YMMV. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/49 "2012-02-02T07:15:59Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Rabbit. > [@runner pat](#): > > Duck season. Elmer season. ---
**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, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/50 "2012-02-02T07:49:45Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Ha! I’ll leave that to a more learned Doper. I only came across the term a couple of years ago and had to google it. Not exactly common parlance - at least in my circles. YMMV. 😛 Coined by one D. Sanchez. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/51 "2012-02-02T08:38:16Z")
Rabbit punch. I’m pretty sure i learned this as a kid playing Trivial Pursuit. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/52 "2012-02-02T12:02:25Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’ll direct you to [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=donkey+punch), which is where I had to learn about it after _Robot Chicken_ used the term as the title of an episode. THere’s a not too bad British Film called [“Donkey Punch”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Punch_(film)) that uses the technique as, well, the whole point of the film. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/53 "2012-02-02T12:41:40Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’ll direct you to [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=donkey+punch), which is where I had to learn about it after _Robot Chicken_ used the term as the title of an episode. Why do I ask these things, when I know I don’t want to know? Thanks - it was my own darn fault for asking. Regards, Shodan ---
**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 2, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/54 "2012-02-02T14:08:53Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > Why, oh why would you punch someone in the throat? To kill them, perhaps? The object of a throat punch, or the hazard of one if you don’t intend to kill someone, is to fracture the [hyoid bone](http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/H/hyoid.html) and cause the throat to swell and close the airway. I hear it stops the fight pretty quickly. Plus, if you manage to not break it, it hurts like hell–also a good way to get someone to rethink the wisdom of continuing a fight. ---
**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, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/55 "2012-02-02T18:01:51Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Rabbit punch. > > I’m pretty sure i learned this as a kid playing Trivial Pursuit. Its Moops ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/56 "2012-02-02T19:08:35Z")
I think this thread got the fastest responses of ANY of my previous threads! Here’s a link to the clip in question: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaBDA9Gj-C8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaBDA9Gj-C8) Looks to me like he definitely thought his answer was going to be correct! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/57 "2012-02-02T19:24:40Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Donkey Punch is way modern. Yep, hard to imagine your parents. . .never mind. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/58 "2012-02-02T19:54:56Z")
I’d have said donkey and I think it should have been an acceptable answer. Rabbit was the second answer that came to mind. > [@runner pat](#): > > Duck season. VG. 😃 > [@amanset](#): > > THere’s a not too bad British Film called [“Donkey Punch”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Punch_(film)) that uses the technique as, well, the whole point of the film. It was advertised on _all_the bus-stops near my house. My daughter (aged about ten) kept asking what it meant. I made up an explanation (something like ‘punching so hard it’s like you’ve been kicked by a donkey’) but she never remembered. So every time we passed those bloody bus stops, for months after the film stopped showing, I had to lie about donkey punching again. But at least it means that if a future sexual partner asks her to participate in one, she’ll say no. If she remembers. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/59 "2012-02-02T20:01:11Z")
I thought a rabbit was a punch to the front of the neck. The throat. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463/60 "2012-02-02T21:37:43Z")
I read a short story in, I think, 6th grade (circa 1974 or 75) called “The Rabbit Punch”, in which a kid accidentally kills his classmate by punching him in the neck. That’s how I know the term. If memory serves, the punch was to the side of the neck, below the ear. Anybody else remember this story? A bit of googling turned up someone asking about it on Yahoo, but I found no further information. Something about it has stuck with me all these years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-punch-to-the-back-of-the-neck-is-named-after-what-animal/611463.md?page=4)