Tussock
/ˈtʌs.ək/noun
A dense tuft or clump of grass, sedge, hair, or feathers.
Did you know?The word’s origin is uncertain, but its earliest forms referred not only to grassy clumps but also to tufts of hair or feathers.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic (proposed)
Proto-Germanic
*tupp-
“A reconstructed Germanic root associated with a tuft, bunch, or projecting mass; this connection is considered possible rather than certain.”
Old Norse (possible source)
Old Norse
þúss
“A tuft or clump; often proposed as a related source for the later English word.”
Late Middle English
Middle English
tushok / tussok
“A tuft or clump, especially a clump of vegetation.”
16th Century
English
tussock
“A tuft or thick clump of grass, sedge, or other plant growth.”
Modern English
English
tussock
“A dense tuft or clump of grass, hair, feathers, or similar fibers.”