Tuft (?), n. [Prov. E. tuff, F. touffe; of German origin; cf. G. zopf a weft of hair, pigtail, top of a tree. See Top summit.]
1.
A collection of small, flexible, or soft things in a knot or bunch; a waving or bending and spreading cluster; as, a tuft of flowers or feathers.
2.
A cluster; a clump; as, a tuft of plants.
Under a tuft of shade.
Milton.
Green lake, and cedar fuft, and spicy glade.
Keble.
3.
A nobleman, or person of quality, especially in the English universities; -- so called from the tuft, or gold tassel, on the cap worn by them.
[Cant, Eng.]
Several young tufts, and others of the faster men.
T. Hughes.
© Webster 1913.
Tuft, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tufted; p. pr. & vb. n. Tufting.]
1.
To separate into tufts.
2.
To adorn with tufts or with a tuft.
Thomson.
© Webster 1913.
Tuft, v. i.
To grow in, or form, a tuft or tufts.
© Webster 1913.