TASSEL

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, clasp, ~, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *~lus, alteration of Latin taxillus small die; akin to Latin talus anklebone, die Date: 14th century a dangling ornament made by laying parallel a bunch of cords or threads of even length and fastening them at one end, something resembling a ~, II. verb (-seled or -selled; -seling or ~ling) Date: 14th century transitive verb to adorn with ~s, intransitive verb to put forth ~ inflorescences