I. ˈtasəl, ˈtaas-, ˈtais-, ˈtȧs- also ˈtäs- or ˈtȯs noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, clasp, tassel, from Old French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin tassellus, alteration of Latin taxillus small die, diminutive of (assumed) Old Latin taxlus (whence Latin talus ankle, anklebone, die)
1. : a pendent ornament used on clothing, curtains, and other articles that is made by laying parallel a bunch of cords or threads of even length and fastening the bunch at one end
2. : something resembling or felt to resemble a tassel: as
a. : the male inflorescence of some plants especially at the top of a stalk of corn — compare silk
b. : the beard of a male turkey
3. : a pendant of woolen yarn worn on an archer's belt and used for wiping arrows
[s]tassle.jpg[/s] [
tassel 1
]
II. verb
( tasseled or tasselled ; tasseled or tasselled ; tasseling or tasselling -s(ə)liŋ ; tassels )
Etymology: Middle English tasselen, from tassel, n.
transitive verb
: to adorn with or as if with tassels : attach tassels to
intransitive verb
: to put forth inflorescences
when the corn begins to tassel
— often used with out
III.
variant of tiercel
IV.
variant of torsel