transitive. To cut short in some part, esp. in the tail, hair, or similar appendage; to curtail.

transitive. To dock the tail of; figurative to cut short, shorten, curtail.

transitive. To deprive of horns, cut off the horns of.

To cut off the top or extremity of (the ears, tail, etc.), to cut off short; esp. to cut the ears of animals as a means of identification, and of…

transitive. To cut short, esp. to dock the tail of (a horse or sheep).

transitive. To deprive of its tail or tails.

To cut off the tail of (a dog); see stern, n.3 4.

transitive. To deprive of the tail.

To dock the tail of (a lamb, etc.); to cut or pull off that which is regarded as the tail, esp. of a plant or fruit. (Cf. top, v.1 II.)

transitive. To deprive (an animal) of horns. Also absol. and figurative.

transitive. To clip or remove the claws of (an animal); (in later use) spec. to amputate the ends of the toes of (a domestic cat or other animal)…

transitive. To dehorn (cattle, sheep, etc.) by using caustic paste, electrocautery, or surgical amputation. Also: to remove the horns of (a strain…

transitive. To remove the fangs from (an animal, esp. a snake).