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Word Study
Tassel
CIDE DICTIONARY
Tassel, n.
A male hawk. See Tercel. [1913 Webster]
Tassel, n. [See Teasel.].
A kind of bur used in dressing cloth; a teasel. [1913 Webster]
Tassel, n. [OE., a fastening of a mantle, OF. tassel a fastening, clasp, F. tasseau a bracket, Fr. L. taxillus a little die, dim. of talus a die of a longish shape, rounded on two sides and marked only on the other four, a knuckle bone.].
- A pendent ornament, attached to the corners of cushions, to curtains, and the like, ending in a tuft of loose threads or cords. [1913 Webster]
- The flower or head of some plants, esp. when pendent. [1913 Webster]"And the maize field grew and ripened, Till it stood in all the splendor
Of its garments green and yellow,
Of its tassels and its plumage." [1913 Webster] - A narrow silk ribbon, or the like, sewed to a book to be put between the leaves. [1913 Webster]
- A piece of board that is laid upon a wall as a sort of plate, to give a level surface to the ends of floor timbers; -- rarely used in the United States. [1913 Webster]
Tassel, v. i.
To put forth a tassel or flower; as, maize tassels. [1913 Webster]
Tassel, v. t.
To adorn with tassels. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Tassel, n. & v.
--n.
1 a tuft of loosely hanging threads or cords etc. attached for decoration to a cushion, scarf, cap, etc.
2 a tassel-like head of some plants, esp. a flower-head with prominent stamens at the top of a maize stalk.
--v. (tasselled, tasselling; US tasseled, tasseling)
1 tr. provide with a tassel or tassels.
2 intr. US (of maize etc.) form tassels.
--n.
1 a tuft of loosely hanging threads or cords etc. attached for decoration to a cushion, scarf, cap, etc.
2 a tassel-like head of some plants, esp. a flower-head with prominent stamens at the top of a maize stalk.
--v. (tasselled, tasselling; US tasseled, tasseling)
1 tr. provide with a tassel or tassels.
2 intr. US (of maize etc.) form tassels.
Tassel, n. (also torsel) a small piece of stone, wood, etc., supporting the end of a beam or joist.
Etymology
OF ult. f. L taxillus small die, and tessella: see TESSELLATE
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