I. ˈtəft noun
Etymology: Middle English, modification of Middle French touffe, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German zopf tip — more at top
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a small cluster of elongated flexible outgrowths attached or close together at the base and free at the opposite ends ; especially : a growing bunch of grasses or close-set plants
b. : a bunch of soft fluffy threads cut off short and used as ornament
2. : clump , cluster
3. : mound
4. : any of the projections of yarns drawn through a fabric or making up a fabric so as to produce a surface of raised loops or cut pile
• tuft·ed ˈtəf-təd adjective
• tufty ˈtəf-tē adjective
II. verb
Date: 1535
transitive verb
1.
a. : to provide or adorn with a tuft
b. : to make (a fabric) of or with tufts
2. : to make (as a mattress) firm by stitching at intervals and sewing on tufts
intransitive verb
: to form into or grow in tufts
• tuft·er noun