\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.

\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.

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