tassel

American  

[tas-uhl] / ˈtæs əl /

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.

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verb (used with object)

tasseled, tasseling, tasselled, tasselling

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)

tasseled, tasseling, tasselled, tasselling

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

tassel British  

/ 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

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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

Other Word Forms

• detassel verb (used with object)
• tasseler noun
• tasselly adjective
• untasseled adjective
• untasselled adjective

Etymology

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, talus ¹

Related Words

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