bobtail

American  

[bob-teyl] / ˈbɒbˌteɪl /

noun

1. a short or docked tail. tails.

2. an animal with such a tail. tails.

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adjective

1. Also bobtailed having a bobtail.

2. cut short; docked; cropped.

3. shorter or briefer than usual; abbreviated.

   Several legislative items must be dropped from the current bobtail session of Congress.

verb (used with object)

1. to cut short the tail tails of; dock, often by cutting a muscle in a horse's tail to make it stand erect.

bobtail British  

/ ˈbɒbˌteɪl /

noun

1. a docked or diminutive tail

2. an animal with such a tail

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adjective

1. having the tail cut short

verb

1. to dock the tail of

2. to cut short; curtail

Etymology

Origin of bobtail

First recorded in 1535–45; bob ² + tail ¹

Example Sentences

He drives a bobtail truck moving furniture across Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2024

It was a large, robust cat about the size of a jaguar, with an elongated face, lanky front legs, and a sloping back that ended in a bobtail.

From Science Daily • May 30, 2024

Crook’s group has been comparing several painkillers in bobtail squid, but Crook says that they haven’t had much luck figuring out which drugs are the most effective, despite testing hundreds of animals.

From Scientific American • Sep. 20, 2023

Research will shift from the day octopus to the Hawaiian bobtail squid, which is unregulated.

From Washington Times • Feb. 16, 2023

This one was almost twice as large, chunky and heavy, with a short bobtail and thick furry legs.

From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford