Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
adornment consisting of a bunch of cords fastened at one end;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tassel \Tas"sel\, n. (Falconry)
A male hawk. See Tercel.
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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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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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tassel \Tas"sel\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tasseledor Tasselled;
p. pr. & vb. n. Tasseling or Tasselling.]
To put forth a tassel or flower; as, maize tassels.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tassel \Tas"sel\, v. t.
To adorn with tassels. --Chaucer.
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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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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tercel \Ter"cel\, n.
See Tiercel. Called also tarsel, tassel. --Chaucer.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
tassel
n 1: adornment consisting of a bunch of cords fastened at one
end