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
ˈbäb-ˌtāld How to pronounce bobtail (audio)

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.
Hawaii is home to several squid species, including the Hawaiian bobtail squid. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2025 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 The adaptive, color-changing skin of chameleons and bobtail squid is biologically complex. — IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2010 Tate, 27, was spending time with her 13-week-old bobtail kitten, Midas, who is usually a blur of motion and mischief from dawn till dusk. — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 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

Phrases Containing bobtail

Rhymes for bobtail

See All Rhymes for bobtail

Browse Nearby Words

bobstay
bobtail
bobtail drawbridge
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Cite this Entry

“Bobtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bobtail. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on bobtail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bobtail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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