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bobtail

[ bob-teyl ]

noun

  1. a short or docked tail. tails.
  2. an animal with such a tail. tails.


adjective

  1. Also bobtailed. 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

/ ˈbɒbˌteɪl /

noun

  1. a docked or diminutive tail
  2. an animal with such a tail


adjective

  1. having the tail cut short

verb

  1. to dock the tail of
  2. to cut short; curtail

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bobtail1

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bobtail1

C16: from bob ² + tail 1

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Example Sentences

The news only reached his lordship yesterday at noon, while at breakfast with his Excellency Lord Bobtail, our ambassador.

And he laughed as he doffed his bobtail coat, And the echoing folds of the carpet smote.

He received a reply at Providence, and he read it and felt like a gambler who has drawn a card to fill his bobtail hand.

There are about twenty American organizations here—big, little, rag-tag, and bobtail.

Harry'd never go to any of those other big strikes—the Bobtail, or the one in Russell Gulch, or a lot more.

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Bob's your unclebob up