DOCK

v. & n. --v.tr. 1 a cut short (an animal's tail). b cut short the tail of (an animal). 2 a (often foll. by from) deduct (a part) from wages, supplies, etc. b reduce (wages etc.) in this way. --n. 1 the solid bony part of an animal's tail. 2 the crupper of a saddle or harness. ødock-tailed having a docked tail. [ME, of uncert. orig.]