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bobcat

[ bob-kat ]
/ ˈbɒbˌkæt /
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noun, plural bob·cats, (especially collectively) bob·cat.
a North American wildcat, Lynx rufus, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico, having a brownish coat with black spots.

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Also called bay lynx.

Origin of bobcat

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; bob(tail) + cat
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bobcat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bobcat

bobcat
/ (ˈbɒbˌkæt) /

noun
a North American feline mammal, Lynx rufus, closely related to but smaller than the lynx, having reddish-brown fur with dark spots or stripes, tufted ears, and a short tailAlso called: bay lynx

Word Origin for bobcat

C19: from bob ² (referring to its short tail) + cat 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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