bobcat

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɒb.kæt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbɔb.kæt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

From bob (short hair; with reference to its tail) +‎ cat.

bobcat (plural bobcats)

1. A North American wildcat, Lynx rufus, having tufted ears and a short tail.

   Synonym: (rare) red lynx

   • 2023 March 27, Helen Lewis, “How Did America’s Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall for an Authoritarian Governor?”, in The Atlantic‎^[1]:

     In the course of a single month this year, the following news reports emanated from Florida: […] A father from East Orlando punched a bobcat in the face for attacking his daughter’s dog.

Genericization of the trademark Bobcat

bobcat (plural bobcats)

1. A multi-purpose construction vehicle, akin to a smaller version of a front-end loader or a backhoe (backhoe loader), with a one-man caged control cabin.

• JCB