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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.

RELATED WORDS

wildcat, cat, catamount, caracal, puma, panther, tabby, kitty, lynx, tiger, cougar, lion, puss, kitten, leopard, jaguar, tomcat, pussy, ocelot, tom

Nearby words

  1. bobby pin,
  2. bobby socks,
  3. bobby sox,
  4. bobby-dazzler,
  5. bobbysoxer,
  6. bobfloat,
  7. bobigny,
  8. boblet,
  9. bobo,
  10. bobo-dioulasso

Origin of bobcat

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; bob(tail) + cat
Also called bay lynx.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bobcat

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

Word Origin and History for bobcat

bobcat

n.

North American lynx, 1873, in a Maine context; so called for its short tail; see bob (n.2) + cat (n.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper