cattail

noun

cat·​tail ˈkat-ˌtāl 

: any of a genus (Typha of the family Typhaceae, the cattail family) of tall reedy marsh plants with brown furry fruiting spikes

especially : a plant (Typha latifolia) with long flat leaves used especially for making mats and chair seats

Examples of cattail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ponda produces BioPuff, a lightweight insulation made from Typha, commonly known as bulrush or cattail. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026

Then, knee-high cattails and primrose, followed shortly by small cottonwoods and willows, then by towering gambel oaks. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 7 June 2026

The 220-acre Buena Vista Lagoon has been shrinking for decades, slowly filling in from the edges with sediment and cattails. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026

Treatments to control the insect are likely to start on Wednesday in areas where larvae have hatched and where cattail mosquitoes are abundant, the agency said. — Nick Lentz, CBS News, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cattail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email
• entail

Kids Definition

cattail

noun

cat·​tail ˈkat-ˌtāl 

: a tall marsh plant that bears very tiny flowers and fruit in brown furry spikes at the end of long stalks