n. & v.
--n.
1. a bunch or collection of threads, grass, feathers, hair, etc., held or growing together at the base.
2 Anat. a bunch of small blood-vessels.
--v.
1. tr. provide with a tuft or tufts.
2 tr. make depressions at regular intervals in (a mattress etc.) by passing a thread through.
3 intr. grow in tufts.
Derivatives:
tufty adj.
Etymology: ME, prob. f. OF tofe, toffe, of unkn. orig.: for -t cf. GRAFT(1)