bobtail

noun

bob·​tail ˈbäb-ˌtāl How to pronounce bobtail (audio)
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

Examples of bobtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for bobtail 

Word History

Etymology

bob entry 4

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bobtail was in 1667

Dictionary Entries Near bobtail

Cite this Entry

“Bobtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bobtail. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

bobtail

noun
bob·​tail -ˌtāl How to pronounce bobtail (audio)
1
: a short or bobbed tail
2
: a horse, dog, or cat with a short or bobbed tail
bobtail adjective
or bobtailed
-ˌtāld

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