Tassel — Tas sel, 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.] 1. A… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tassel — Tas sel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Tasseled}or {Tasselled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tasseling} or {Tasselling}.] To put forth a tassel or flower; as, maize tassels. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tassel — (n.) c.1300, mantle fastener, from O.Fr. tassel a fastening, clasp (mid 12c.), from V.L. *tassellus, said to be from L. taxillus small die or cube, a dim. of talus knucklebone, ankle (see TALUS (Cf. talus) (1)). But OED finds this doubtful and… … Etymology dictionary
tassel — tassel1 [tas′əl] n. [ME < OFr, knob, knot, button < VL * tassellus, altered < L taxillus, a small die (akin to talus, ankle), based on L tessella, small cube, piece of mosaic] 1. Obs. a clasp or fibula 2. an ornamental tuft of threads,… … English World dictionary
Tassel — Tas sel, n. (Falconry) A male hawk. See {Tercel}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tassel — Tas sel, n. [See {Teasel}.] A kind of bur used in dressing cloth; a teasel. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tassel — Tas sel, v. t. To adorn with tassels. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tassel — The inflected forms are tasselled, tasselling in BrE and in AmE usually tasseled, tasseling … Modern English usage
tassel — ► NOUN 1) a tuft of hanging threads, knotted together at one end and used for decoration in soft furnishing and clothing. 2) the tufted head of some plants. DERIVATIVES tasselled adjective. ORIGIN Old French, clasp … English terms dictionary
Tassel — For other uses, see hilt and maize. A tassel is a binding of plaited or otherwise gathered threads from which at one end protrudes a cord on which the tassel is hung, and which may have loose, dangling threads at the other end. Tassels are… … Wikipedia
tassel — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, clasp, tassel, from Anglo French, from Vulgar Latin *tassellus, alteration of Latin taxillus small die; akin to Latin talus anklebone, die Date: 14th century 1. a dangling ornament made by laying parallel a… … New Collegiate Dictionary
