bobtail
[
bob
-teyl]
/ˈbɒbˌteɪl/
noun
1.
a short or docked
tail
.
2.
an animal with such a
tail
.
adjective
3.
Also,
bobtailed
. having a bobtail.
4.
cut short; docked; cropped.
5.
shorter or briefer than usual; abbreviated:
Several legislative items must be dropped from the current bobtail session of Congress.
verb (used with object)
6.
to cut short the
tail
of; dock, often by cutting a muscle in a
horse's tail
to make it stand erect.
Origin
1535-45;
bob
2
+
tail
1
Examples from the web for
bobtail
The tractors were first tested with the control trailer and then tested
bobtail
.
The drawing shall indicate where the
bobtail
truck will be parked.
British Dictionary definitions for
bobtail
bobtail
/
ˈbɒbˌteɪl
/
noun
1.
a docked or diminutive tail
2.
an animal with such a tail
adjective
3.
having the tail cut short
verb
(
transitive
)
4.
to dock the tail of
5.
to cut short; curtail
Word Origin
C16: from
bob
² +
tail
1
Slang definitions & phrases for
bobtail
bobtail
noun
A dishonorable discharge •So called because the phrase ''service honorable and faithful'' was deleted from the discharge form
(1870s+ Army)
A truck tractor without a semitrailer (1940s+ Truckers) v
:Returningwithjustthetractor(bobtailing)represented a loss
[noun sense 2 considers the semitrailer the tail of the rig]