tassel

English

/ˈtæsəl/

noun
Definitions
  • A ball-shaped bunch of plaited or otherwise entangled threads from which at one end protrudes a cord on which the ball is hung, and which may have loose, dangling threads at the other end (often used as decoration along the bottom of garments, curtains or other hangings).
  • (botany) The panicle on a male plant of maize, which consists of loose threads with anthers on them.
  • The loose hairs at the end of a braid.
  • A narrow silk ribbon, or similar, sewed to a book to be put between the pages.
  • (architecture) 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.
  • A kind of bur used in dressing cloth; a teasel.
  • A thin plate of gold on the back of a bishop's gloves.

Etymology

Derived from Old French tassel derived from Latin taxillus (small cube).

Origin

Latin

taxillus

Gloss

small cube

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms