tassel

1 of 2

noun

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 2

verb

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

transitive verb

: to adorn with tassels

intransitive verb

: to put forth tassel inflorescences

Examples of tassel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Elegant tassels Tassels have slowly been taking over every corner of the fashion world, from necklaces to bags to skirts, for the past few months. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026

Eventually, Cartier acquired it, and its in-house designer Alfred Durante created a gold and ruby chain, studded with rondelles and tassels, Vogue reported. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026

Verb

And, brother, are there a lot of varieties — hammerhead shark, walking shark, whale shark, tawny nurse shark, pajama shark, pelagic thresher, tiger shark, tasselled wobbegong shark, puffadder shy shark, baby shark, mommy shark and daddy shark, to name but a few. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

Corn was just starting to tassel across much of the Midwest, including fields in southern Indiana, a golden crown signaling the end of the season. —Journal Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

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