Main Entry: ¹tuft

Pronunciation: \ˈtəft\

Function: 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