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

Related Articles Her dress featured a backless scoop and halter top with a pooling, floor length skirt and a small tassel embellishment hanging off the back. — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 8 Nov. 2026

In keeping with the ideas of travel and adventure, the cocktail hour had a hotel theme (an idea that came from the Peninsula’s staff), with staff dressed as bellhops and a wall of ornate golden keys with pink tassels serving as the escort cards. — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 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

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