tassel
[ tas-uh l ]
/ ˈtæs əl /
noun
a pendent ornament consisting commonly of a bunch of threads, small cords, or other strands hanging from a roundish knob or head, used on clothing, in jewelry, on curtains, etc.
something resembling this, as the inflorescence of certain plants, especially that at the summit of a stalk of corn.
verb (used with object), tas·seled, tas·sel·ing or (especially British) tas·selled, tas·sel·ling.
to furnish or adorn with tassels.
to form into a tassel or tassels.
to remove the tassel from (growing corn) in order to improve the crop.
verb (used without object), tas·seled, tas·sel·ing or (especially British) tas·selled, tas·sel·ling.
(of corn) to put forth tassels (often followed by out).
Origin of tassel
1250–1300; Middle English (noun) < Old French
tas(s)el fastening for cloak < Vulgar Latin
*tassellus, blend of Latin
tessella (diminutive of
tessera die for gaming) and
taxillus (diminutive of
tālus die for gaming). See
tessellate,
talus1
OTHER WORDS FROM tassel
Words nearby tassel
tasmania,
tasmanian,
tasmanian devil,
tasmanian wolf,
tass,
tassel,
tassel flower,
tasset,
tassie,
tasso,
taste
Example sentences from the Web for tassel
British Dictionary definitions for tassel
tassel
/ (ˈtæsəl) /
noun
a tuft of loose threads secured by a knot or ornamental knob, used to decorate soft furnishings, clothes, etc
anything resembling this tuft, esp the tuft of stamens at the tip of a maize inflorescence
verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled
(tr)
to adorn with a tassel or tassels
(intr)
(of maize) to produce stamens in a tuft
(tr)
to remove the tassels from
Derived forms of tassel
tasselly, adjectiveWord Origin for tassel
C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin
tassellus (unattested), changed from Latin
taxillus a small die, from
tālus gaming die