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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A cluster; a clump; as, a tuft of plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under a tuft of shade. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Green lake, and cedar fuft, and spicy glade. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Several young tufts, and others of the faster men. T. Hughes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To grow in, or form, a tuft or tufts. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tufted; p. pr. & vb. n. Tufting. ] 1. To separate into tufts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To adorn with tufts or with a tuft. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Adorned with a tuft; as, the tufted duck. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Growing in tufts or clusters; tufty. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tufted crowtoe, and pale jessamine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tufted trees and springing corn. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tufted duck (Zool.), the ring-necked duck. [ Local, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A hanger-on to noblemen, or persons of quality, especially in English universities; a toady. See 1st Tuft, 3. [ Cant, Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The practice of seeking after, and hanging on, noblemen, or persons of quality, especially in English universities. [ Cant, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Abounding with tufts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both in the tufty frith and in the mossy fell. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Growing in tufts or clusters. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where tufty daisies nod at every gale. W. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]