Tuft \Tuft\, n. [Prov. E. tuff, F. touffe; of German origin; cf. G. zopf a weft of hair, pigtail, top of a tree. See Top summit.]

1. A collection of small, flexible, or soft things in a knot or bunch; a waving or bending and spreading cluster; as, a tuft of flowers or feathers.

2. A cluster; a clump; as, a tuft of plants.

Under a tuft of shade. --Milton.

Green lake, and cedar fuft, and spicy glade. --Keble.

3. A nobleman, or person of quality, especially in the English universities; -- so called from the tuft, or gold tassel, on the cap worn by them. [Cant, Eng.]

Several young tufts, and others of the faster men. --T. Hughes.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tuft \Tuft\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tufted; p. pr. & vb. n. Tufting.]

1. To separate into tufts.

2. To adorn with tufts or with a tuft. --Thomson.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tuft \Tuft\, v. i. To grow in, or form, a tuft or tufts.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)