cattail

[ kat-teyl ]

/ ˈkætˌteɪl /

noun

any tall, reedlike marsh plant of the genus Typha, especially T. latifolia, having long, sword-shaped leaves and dense, cylindrical clusters of minute brown flowers.

Also called bulrush, reed mace.

Origin of cattail

First recorded in 1425–75, cattail is from the late Middle English word cattestail. See cat, tail¹

Words nearby cattail

catstick, catstitch, catsuit, catsup, catt, cattail, cattalo, cattegat, cattell, catterick, cattery

Example sentences from the Web for cattail

Perched upon a swaying last year's cattail, Mr. Red-winged Blackbird shook his head in reply.

The Tale of Bobby Bobolink |Arthur Scott Bailey
At this point, Marcus noticed a brown something bearing a strong resemblance to the swamp stalk, known among boys as the cattail.

Round the Block |John Bell Bouton
Only starving people tried to make food from cattail seeds and the inner bark of slippery elm and willow trees.

Shaman |Robert Shea
Nests are placed on the ground surface, in cover of marsh grass, cattail, or sedge.

The Breeding Birds of Kansas |Richard F. Johnston

Nests are placed on the ground surface, in cover of grasses, cattail and sedges.

The Breeding Birds of Kansas |Richard F. Johnston

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

cattail

noun

Origin of cattail

Words nearby cattail

Example sentences from the Web for cattail