tassel

[ tas-uhl ]

noun

1. 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.
2. 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.

1. to furnish or adorn with tassels.
2. to form into a tassel or tassels.
3. 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.

1. (of corn) to put forth tassels (often followed by out ).

tassel

/ ˈtæsəl /

noun

1. a tuft of loose threads secured by a knot or ornamental knob, used to decorate soft furnishings, clothes, etc
2. anything resembling this tuft, esp the tuft of stamens at the tip of a maize inflorescence

verb

1. tr to adorn with a tassel or tassels
2. intr (of maize) to produce stamens in a tuft
3. tr to remove the tassels from

Derived Forms

• ˈtasselly, adjective

Other Words From

• tassel·er especially British, tassel·ler noun
• tassel·ly especially British, tassel·ly adjective
• de·tassel verb (used with object) detasseled detasseling or (especially British) detasselled detasselling
• un·tasseled adjective
• un·tasselled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tassel¹

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, talus ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tassel¹

C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin tassellus (unattested), changed from Latin taxillus a small die, from tālus gaming die

Example Sentences

She’s never done anything with a couch other than add a tassel or two — that’s the extent of her couch play.

From Los Angeles Times

A few tables away, Alexandra Derderian, a video editor wearing the same rainbow tassel earrings as her plush giraffe puppet, was chatting with Michael Esparza and his bright orange Muppet-like counterpart, Melvin.

From Los Angeles Times

As he yanked on it the thread pulled up a tassel, which topped a funny little red hat.

From Literature

I had an ancestress with a long gray tail and eyes as beady as mine, and her name was Katinka Van Tassel.

From Literature

"The figure, supposed to represent Prince Philip in his robes as vice-chancellor of Cambridge University with mortar board and tassel, is cast in bronze but painted black and white, with a twisted bronze abstract 'head'," she said on her website.

From BBC

Related Words

• brink
• edge
• hem
• outskirts
• perimeter
• periphery
• skirt
• verge