How Do You Spell BOBTAIL?

Pronunciation: [bˈɒbte͡ɪl] (IPA)

The word "bobtail" is spelled with two syllables - "bob" and "tail". The first syllable, "bob", is pronounced with a short "o" sound, as in "hot" (IPA symbol: /bɒb/). The second syllable, "tail", is pronounced with a long "a" sound, as in "bake" (IPA symbol: /teɪl/). Together, the two syllables form the word "bobtail", which refers to a type of horse or a short tail on an animal. Remember, when spelling "bobtail", the "a" is pronounced as "ay".

BOBTAIL Meaning and Definition

1. Bobtail can be used as a noun or a verb depending on the context. As a noun, bobtail typically refers to the shortened or docked tail of an animal, particularly a dog or horse. Docking refers to the process of surgically removing a part or all of an animal's tail. The bobtail may be a natural feature found in certain dog breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd or the Bobtail cat, or it may result from the deliberate cutting of the tail. In horse breeding, bobtail can also refer to a type of horse with a naturally short tail.

   As a verb, bobtail means to shorten or dock the tail of an animal, usually through a surgical procedure. It is often done for practical or aesthetic reasons, such as preventing the tail from getting caught in machinery or enhancing the animal's appearance for show purposes.

   Additionally, beyond its specific animal-related meanings, bobtail can also be used in a more general sense to describe something that has been cut or shortened. For example, in the context of transportation, a bobtail truck refers to a tractor unit without a trailer, or a truck with a short or cut-down rear section.

   Overall, bobtail refers to the shortened or docked tail of an animal or the act of shortening a tail, and it can also be used more broadly to describe something that has been cut or shortened.

2. A tail cut short; the rabble, in contempt-as rag-tag and bob-tail.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for BOBTAIL

• obtail
• betail
• bottal
• brutail
• vobtail
• nobtail
• bobtaill
• bobtayl
• brodtail
• brontail
• bobtays
• beontail
• buctail
• dovteyel
• Bobtaye
• Bobtaille
• Bobtael

Etymology of BOBTAIL

The word "bobtail" has a compound etymology, deriving from both Middle English and Old French.

The first part of the word, "bob", comes from Middle English "bobbe", meaning a cluster or bunch. It was used to refer to a short, stubby object or a dangling appendage.

The second part, "tail", comes from Old French "taile", meaning a cutting or removal. In the context of "bobtail", it refers to the shortened or docked tail of an animal.

When combined, "bobtail" originally referred to a horse or dog with its tail shortened or docked. Over time, the term extended to describe any animal with a naturally short or stubby tail. It eventually came to be used metaphorically to refer to someone or something that is short or lacking in some way.

Idioms with the word BOBTAIL

• ragtag and bobtail The idiom "ragtag and bobtail" refers to a group of people who are disorganized, unconventional, or of disparate social backgrounds. It denotes a collection of individuals who may not fit societal norms or standards, often characterized by their varied appearances, behaviors, or abilities.
• rag, tag, and bobtail The idiom "rag, tag, and bobtail" refers to a group of miscellaneous, disorganized, or undistinguished people or things. It conveys the idea of a motley or unruly collection of individuals or objects.

Similar spelling word for BOBTAIL

• bobtailed.

Plural form of BOBTAIL is BOBTAILS

Conjugate verb Bobtail

CONDITIONAL

I would bobtail

you would bobtail

he/she/it would bobtail

we would bobtail

they would bobtail

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be bobtailing

you would be bobtailing

he/she/it would be bobtailing

we would be bobtailing

they would be bobtailing

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have bobtail

you would have bobtail

he/she/it would have bobtail

we would have bobtail

they would have bobtail

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been bobtailing

you would have been bobtailing

he/she/it would have been bobtailing

we would have been bobtailing

they would have been bobtailing

FUTURE

I will bobtail

you will bobtail

he/she/it will bobtail

we will bobtail

they will bobtail

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be bobtailing

you will be bobtailing

he/she/it will be bobtailing

we will be bobtailing

they will be bobtailing

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have bobtailed

you will have bobtailed

he/she/it will have bobtailed

we will have bobtailed

they will have bobtailed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been bobtailing

you will have been bobtailing

he/she/it will have been bobtailing

we will have been bobtailing

they will have been bobtailing

IMPERATIVE

you bobtail

we let´s bobtail

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to bobtail

PAST

I bobtailed

you bobtailed

he/she/it bobtailed

we bobtailed

they bobtailed

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was bobtailing

you were bobtailing

he/she/it was bobtailing

we were bobtailing

they were bobtailing

PAST PARTICIPLE

bobtailed

PAST PERFECT

I had bobtailed

you had bobtailed

he/she/it had bobtailed

we had bobtailed

they had bobtailed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been bobtailing

you had been bobtailing

he/she/it had been bobtailing

we had been bobtailing

they had been bobtailing

PRESENT

I bobtail

you bobtail

he/she/it bobtails

we bobtail

they bobtail

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am bobtailing

you are bobtailing

he/she/it is bobtailing

we are bobtailing

they are bobtailing

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

bobtailing

PRESENT PERFECT

I have bobtailed

you have bobtailed

he/she/it has bobtailed

we have bobtailed

they have bobtailed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been bobtailing

you have been bobtailing

he/she/it has been bobtailing

we have been bobtailing

they have been bobtailing