tassel

1 of 3

noun (1)

tas·​sel ˈta-səl 

usually of corn ˈtä-, 

ˈtȯ-

1

: a dangling ornament made by laying parallel a bunch of cords or threads of even length and fastening them at one end

2

: something resembling a tassel

especially : the terminal male inflorescence of some plants and especially corn

Illustration of tassel

• tassel 1

tassel

2 of 3

verb

tasseled or tasselled; tasseling or tasselling ˈta-s(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to adorn with tassels

intransitive verb

: to put forth tassel inflorescences

torsel

3 of 3

noun (2)

tor·​sel

ˈtȯrsəl

variants or tassel

ˈtasəl 

plural -s

: a piece of stone, iron, or wood to support the end of a beam or joist and distribute the weight

Examples of tassel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Napa leather linings, a cabochon clasp inlaid with white mother-of-pearl, and interchangeable silk tassels available in 12 colors to encourage customers’ personalization rounded out the style. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026

These minimalistic loafers scream sophistication with real suede uppers, dainty tassels, and piping-style trim. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2026

Verb

Abdeen guessed that they were drawn to the familiar symbols that the Masons borrowed from what the French had dubbed the Orient, such as the tarboosh, a brimless and tasselled hat. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Dreamlike and cosy, almost everything in sight is a warm, golden yellow, from the curtain tassels to the imperial yellow Ottoman silk canopy above the enormous (and very comfortable) king-size bed. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, clasp, tassel, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *tassellus, alteration of Latin taxillus small die; akin to Latin talus anklebone, die

Noun (2)

torsel alteration of tassel, from French tassel, tasseau, from Old French tassel clasp

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for tassel

• castle
• facile
• gracile
• hassall
• hassle
• passel
• vassal
• fluorouracil
• thiouracil
• forecastle
• uracil
• propylthiouracil

Kids Definition

tassel

1 of 2 noun

tas·​sel ˈtas-əl 

also especially of corn ˈtäs-, 

ˈtȯs-

1

: a hanging ornament made of a bunch of cords fastened at one end

2

: something resembling a tassel

especially : the male flower cluster on the top of some plants and especially corn

tassel

2 of 2 verb

tasseled or tasselled; tasseling or tasselling

-(ə-)liŋ

: to adorn with or put forth tassels