bobtail

noun

bob·​tail ˈbäb-ˌtāl 

1

a

: a bobbed tail

b

: a horse, dog, or cat with a bobbed or very short tail

especially : old english sheepdog

2

: something curtailed

bobtail adjective

or bobtailed

ˈbäb-ˌtāld 

Examples of bobtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the bobtail squid, which diverged from the California two-spot octopus between 350 million and 250 million years ago, had a chromosome that was an outlier in having more transposable elements than its other chromosomes—possibly the same Z chromosome as the octopus. —Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2024

Luckily, transforming your home into a winter wonderland is as easy as stopping by the dollar store and stocking up on these affordable finds that are sure to make bells on bobtails ring without leaving coal in your bank account. —Sarah Lemire, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2023

Like many of its relatives, the bobtail squid makes deft use of its light-emitting photophores to hunt, communicate with its peers, and hide from predators lurking below. —Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010

Pulau Mabul, Malaysia Diving enthusiasts flock to Pulau Mabul, off the southeastern coast of Malaysia, where the marine life is on par with the Galápagos — native sea moths, bobtail squids, and the elusive paintpot cuttlefish are just a few of the inhabitants. —Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

bob entry 4

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bobtail

• ragtag and bobtail
• tagrag and bobtail

Kids Definition

bobtail

noun

bob·​tail -ˌtāl 

1

: a short or bobbed tail

2

: a horse, dog, or cat with a short or bobbed tail

bobtail adjective

or bobtailed

-ˌtāld