[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bobtail/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / bobtail

# bobtail

noun (a bobtail, bobtails); adjective (bobtail or bobtailed)

«bobtail» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A short tail, or a tail that has been cut short. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#m1)
2. An animal with a short tail, such as a bobtail cat or a rabbit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#m2)
3. The Old English Sheepdog, a big shaggy dog, is often called a «bobtail». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons on animals, a short tail can be natural (rabbits, Manx cats, bobtail squid). In stories it describes animals. In everyday British talk, «bobtail» is a nickname for the Old English Sheepdog. Old phrase: «ragtag and bobtail» meant a ragged crowd.

### Examples

- The rabbit's white bobtail bounced as it ran. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#x1)
- Our neighbour has a fluffy bobtail sheepdog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#x2)
- A Manx cat has a bobtail or no tail at all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#x3)
- The bobtail squid glows in the dark sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#x4)
- The horse had a bobtail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#x5)
- The bobtail dog shook water all over us. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#x6)
- Deer flash their bobtails as a warning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/#x7)

### Note

Countable: a bobtail, bobtails. «Bob» here means cut short, like a bob haircut. As an adjective you can say «bobtail» or «bobtailed».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bobtail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bobtail/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bobtail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bobtail.html) on Mova free.