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