Tassel

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

tassel
    n 1: adornment consisting of a bunch of cords fastened at one
         end

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tassel \Tas"sel\, n. (Falconry)
   A male hawk. See {Tercel}.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tassel \Tas"sel\, n. [See {Teasel}.]
   A kind of bur used in dressing cloth; a teasel.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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 pendent ornament, attached to the corners of cushions,
      to curtains, and the like, ending in a tuft of loose
      threads or cords.
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   2. The flower or head of some plants, esp. when pendent.
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            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.       --Longfellow.
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   3. A narrow silk ribbon, or the like, sewed to a book to be
      put between the leaves.
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   4. (Arch.) 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.
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   {Tassel flower} (Bot.), a name of several composite plants of
      the genus {Cineraria}, especially the {Cineraria
      sconchifolia}, and of the blossoms which they bear.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tassel \Tas"sel\, v. t.
   To adorn with tassels. --Chaucer.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Teasel \Tea"sel\, n. [OE. tesel, AS. t[=ae]sel, t[=ae]sl, the
   fuller's herb. See {Tease}.] [Written also {tassel}, {tazel},
   {teasle}, {teazel}, and {teazle}.]
   1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Dipsacus}, of which one
      species ({Dipsacus fullonum}) bears a large flower head
      covered with stiff, prickly, hooked bracts. This flower
      head, when dried, is used for raising a nap on woolen
      cloth.
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   Note: Small teasel is {Dipsacus pilosus}, wild teasel is
         {Dipsacus sylvestris}.
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   2. A bur of this plant.
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   3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in
      dressing cloth.
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   {Teasel frame}, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel
      heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tercel \Ter"cel\, n.
   See {Tiercel}. Called also {tarsel}, {tassel}. --Chaucer.
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