tuft

 
Pronunciation: /tʌft/

noun

  • a bunch or collection of threads, grass, hair, etc., held or growing together at the base: scrubby tufts of grass
  • Anatomy & Zoology a bunch of small blood vessels, respiratory tentacles, or other small anatomical structures.

verb

[with object]
  • 1provide with a tuft or tufts: the fringe can be tasselled or tufted
  • 2 Needlework strengthen (upholstery) by passing a cluster of threads through the material, so making depressions at regular intervals.

Derivatives

tufty

adjective (tuftier, tuftiest)

Origin:

late Middle English: probably from Old French tofe, of unknown origin. The final -t is typical of phonetic confusion between -f and -ft at the end of words; compare with graft1