tass 
mow of hay or corn, = Ir. rfnix, a heap, pile, 
rick, = \V. aai, ii heap, stuck, rick, mow.] 1. A 
lir:i|>; a pile. [Obsolete or prov. Kng.] 
To nmsake in the tan of bodyes dede, 
Hern Inr to strrpe uf liiu'ncyH anil uf wede, 
The piloting ilMrn bis\ n.->xr :m<l rmr 
After the bataille and diseonfiture. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 147. 
Thcr lay of paiens maul tame, 
Wide and Hide, more and lasse. 
6105 
N'ctier be-fore this mantell be tasselled shall It not 
hange a-boule my nekke. Merlin (K. K. T. 8.X III. 620. 
And the hills of 1'entucket were tassellnl nitli corn. 
Whittier, liridal of rennacix>k, I. 
2. To remove the tassel from (growing Imlmn 
corn), for the purpose of improving the crop. 
first Annual Kt-jmrl <;/' Kansas /.>/</ -inn nl Ma- 
tinii. 
II. in trnns. To put forth a tassel: said of 
trees or plants, especially of maize, 
tassel-t, ". An obsolete form of teasel. Palla- 
ilinx. Uusbondrio (E. E. T. S.), p. 191. 
Scott, 
2. A mow. flalliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 
tass a (tas), n. [Formerly also tassr; < F. tusxr tassel ;i (tas'l), n. Same as" tussle. 
= 8p. tasa = I'g. tacit = It. ta::a, < Ar. Pers. Heart of Mid-Lothian, li. [Scotch.] 
ids, a cup, goblet.] A drinking-cup or its con- tassel 4 !, . Same as tercel. 
tents; more especially, a small draught of li- tassel 5 , . In art-h., same as tftrsel. 
i|iior; as much as may be contained in a wine- tasseled, tasselled (tas'ld), p. a. 1. Furnished 
*? lass - 
' 
or decorated with a tassel or tassels, or with 
something resembling a tassel. 
Or ta**elt'd horn 
Shakes the high thicket. 
Milton, Arcades, 1. 57. 
The orchard bloom and tastetted maize. 
Whittier, Songs of Labor, Ded. 
2. In Itrr., adorned with tassels; having tas- 
sels hanging from it: said especially of a hat 
used in the arms of ecclesiastics. Thus, an arch- 
bishop's arms are unsigned or timbered with a green hat, 
tasseled In four rows, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Berry. 
Pee. Blaze, sir, that coat. 
Pie. She bears, an 't please you, argent, three leeks vort, 
In canton or, tasselled of the first. 
B. Jonson, Staple of News, Iv. 1. 
/.,/<!, />,/./ (Child's r.alla.N, II. ::s:i). 
The Laird . . . recommended to the veteran to add a 
tass of brandy and a flagon of claret 
Scott, Legend of Montrose, v. 
tass :t t (tas), n. [Also tasse; < ME. " tasse, tache,< 
OF. tasse, prob. also "tascc = It. tasca, a pouch, 
purse, prob. < OHO. tasca, MHG. tasche, tesche, 
Q. tasche, a pocket, pouch, = Icel. taxku. \\ 
pocket, pouch, chest. Hence tasset. Cf. sabre- 
luxh.] Same as tasset. Xortli, tr. of Plutarch, 
p. 2IJ. 
tass 4 (tas), H. Same as task. 
tassago, . |_S. American.] In South America, 
a preparation of dried meat. Compare pemmi- tassel-flower (tas'l-flou'er), . 1. An annual 
composite garden flower, Emilia saaittata (Ca- 
calia coccinca). It has rayless tassel-formed 
orange-scarlet heads, nearly an inch broad. 
2. A shrub or tree of the genus Inga. 
tassel-gentt, tassel-gentlet, n. See tercel. 
tassel-grass, . See Rupjria. 
tassel-hyacinth (tas'1-hi'a-sinth), . See hya- 
cinth, 2. 
tassel 1 (tas'l), n. [Also dial, tossel; < ME. tas- tassel-stitch (tas'l -stich), n. A stitch used 
srl, irreg. tared, = MLG. tassel, < OF. tassel, a in embroidery, by which a kind of fringe is 
fastening, clasp, F. tasseau, a bracket, ledge produced : open loops arc made of the thread, 
(ML. tassellus), = It. tassello, a collar of a cloak, which are afterward cut. 
a square, < L. taxillus, a small die, dim. of talus, tassel-tree (tas'1-tre), n. Either of the shrubs 
a knuckle-bone, a die made of the knuckle-bone Garrya elliptica and G. Fremontii : so called in 
of an animal.] 1. A pendent ornament, con- allusion to the elegant drooping catkins of the 
sisting generally of a roundish mold covered male plant. 
with twisted threads of silk, wool, etc., which tassel-worm (tas'1-werm), n. An early genera- 
hang down in a thick fringe. The mold la some- tion of the boll-worm, or corn-ear worm, which 
times omitted. The loose tuft terminating It may be of the feeds on the tassels of maize in the southern 
finest raveled silk, or of stout twists of gold or silverwire. TTnircH St -it ,.* So*> hnll ,/,.,-,,, 
Tassels are frequently attached to the corners of cushions, t ' iS-lT t5 r?p T 
to curtains, walking-canes, umbrella-handles, sword-hilui taSSOt (tas et), n. [< Or . tassette, a tasset, dim. 
etc., but are (181H) gradually passing out of use. of tasse, a pouch : see tasse%.] In armor: (a) A 
Item, J. prikklng hat. covered with blake felwet. splint of steel of which several 
Item, Ij. tamllijs on hym be hynde. form the skirt, depending from 
Paston tetters, I. 487. 
tassal (tas'al), n. In arch., same as torsel. 
tasset, See ta*i, tass", tass&. 
tassedt, a. [ME.: see tassel*.] Adorned with 
tassrls. 
By hir glrdel heeng a purs of lether, 
Tasted [var. tasseled] with silk and perled with latoiin. 
Chaucer, Miller's Tale, 1. 65. 
A large leather purse with faire threadon tassels. 
Greene't Yisitm. 
2. Anything resembling a tassel, as the pen- 
dent head or flower of some plants ; specifical- 
ly, the staminate inflorescence at the summit 
of the stalk of Indian corn (maize); also, lo- 
cally, the bunch of so-called "silk" protruding 
from the top of an ear of maize. 
And the maize-field grew and ripened, 
Till it stood in all the splendour 
Of it* garments green and yellow, 
Of its tassels and its plumage. 
LmyifeUow, Hiawatha, xili. 
The special object of the experiment was to study the 
effect of removing the tassels or male flowers from the 
stalks as fast us they appeared. 
First Annual Rejxirt of Kansas Experimftit Station. 
the cuirass in the complete 
armor of the fifteenth cen- 
tury, before the introduction 
of the base. Compare great 
braguctte, under hraquette. (b) 
pi. A set of similar splints 
forming the protection for the 
front of the thigh in the armor 
of the sixteenth and seven- 
teenth centuries, the lowest 
piece being sometimes larger 
than the others, and forming 
a solid plate of considerable size. See tuille. 
The tassets continued In use until late in the seventeenth 
century, forming part of the suit of armor known as the 
corselet, and so formed as to meet the top of the military 
boot. Also tassette ; called also loss, tasse. See also cut 
under Almain-rivet. 
Corselet with Tassets 
(*), Kith century. 
3. Ill her., a bearing representing a tassel, usu- tassette 1 (ta-set'),n. [< F. tassette, dim. ot tasse, 
ally or. Its use as a sepiirate bearing Is derived from Its a cup: see tos2.] A small 
constant appearance in connection with armorial man- 
tles, robes of state, and the like. 
cone of earthen- 
ware, three of which are used to support a pot- 
tery vessel in the kiln, replacing the stilt or 
Perhaps the first appearance of a tamrl on a mantling is triangle. 
SfortrJuLuSr 1 '' " " Hareyck ln Solltnacre Church, tassette 2 t. H. [OF.: see tasset.] Same as fas- 
'/Van*, ilitt. Soc. of Lancashire and Cheshire, N. S., V. 43. ,**' {') 
4t. /V,V,,.,asmallplateofbeatengoldor S .:i.,r, ^nkmVcup' fLowlanTsco^h f " 
sometimes jeweled, sowed on the back of abish- ' g ^" P> . L 
op's glove. lli>ck. Church of our Fathers, ii. 161. 
6. A small ribbon of silk sewed to a book, to 
be put between the leaves A' /'/I/////K 1706 * 
Chain tassel, a group or cluster of metal chain? or tast '> " aml " "" "ieH3 rorm 01 tasie*. 
strings of disks o'r plaques, forming a sort of tassel, as in tastable (tas'ta-bl), rt. [< taste 1 + -able.] Ca- 
8..HH' hwd-diwi ornaments. i.nne. Modern Egyptians, pable of being tasted; pleasant to the taste; 
savory; relishing. 
Their distilled oils are fluid, volatile, and tastable. 
Boyle. 
, My Bonny Mary 
obsolete form of ..*!. 
. . 
p. 61. Festoon-and-tassel border. See festoon. 
Tassel-fringe, n name given to a fringe composed of 
separate bundles of threads or cords tieil to a braiding 
or gimp. Tassel pondweed. Same as ditch-grass. 
tassel' (tas'l), .; pret. and pp. tattSed, t<tx- taste 1 (tast), r.; pret. and pp. tasted, ppr. tast- 
flled, ppr. tasseling, tasseUiHg. [< ME. (*- ;,/. _ [Earlyjaod. E. also tast;_ < ME. fasten, < 
Mltm; < /./.vvr/i, .] I. trans. 1. To attach a OF. taster, F. inter = OSp. Pr. tagtar = It 
towel or tassels to; decorate with tassels of tastare, touch, handle, probe, test, try, tastei 
any kind. f or 'taxitare, a new iterative of L. taxare, touch 
taste 
sharply, < Imii/tn; touch: sro Inni/rnt, and cf. 
/M'. BK.] I. //'iiiv. If. To toi'u-h; test by 
touching; handle; fed. 
That like stoon a pod thou .,li It calle, 
I rede thee, lat thyn hand UIKHI it falle, 
And taste it we), and stoon thou slniH it fyndo. 
Chaur.T. S-'conii Nun's lair, 1. 5O3. 
Loth was that other, and did faint through feare, 
To ''' Hi untryed dint of deadly steele. 
%MMr, K. g., i. in. 34. 
2f. To prove; test; try; examine. 
Lat us we) taste him at bis herte-rote, 
That, if so be that he a wepen have, 
U IHT that he dar, his lyf to kepe and save, 
Fighten with this fend and him defende. 
('haueer, Good Women, 1. 1003. 
Sir, no tyme is to tarie this traytour to taste. 
York Playt, p. 323. 
Come, let me taste my horse. 
Who Is to bear me like a thunderttolt 
Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales. 
Shale., 1 Hen. IV., Iv. 1. 119. 
3. To test or prove by the tongue or palate; 
take into the mouth in small quantity, in order 
to try the flavor or relish ; specifically, to test 
for purposes of trade. 
For the ear trieth words as the month tasteth meat. 
Job xi.xiv. S. 
Wherein Is he good, but to taste sack and drink It? 
Shot., 1 Hen. IV., II. 4. 501. 
Young Peter Gray, who lasted teas for Baker, Croop, A Co. 
If. 5. Gilbert, Etiquette. 
4. To cat or drink ; try by eating or drinking, 
as by morsels or sips. 
A thing with bony thou devyse . . . 
When o4)n hath tasted it, anoon bis cure 
Dothe he to liryng his brethcren to that leest. 
Palladiut, Uusbondrie (E. E. T. S.X p. 146. 
I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod 
that was in mine hand. 1 Sam. xlv. 43. 
She [Queen Isabella! was temperate even to abstemious- 
ness In her diet, seldom or never tasting wine. 
Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., II. 16. 
Some little spice-cakes, which whosoever tasted would 
longingly desire to taste again. 
Hawthorne, Seven Gables, v. 
5. To perceive or distinguish by means of the 
tongue or palate ; perceive the flavor of. 
I am this day fourscore years old ; . . . can thy servant 
taste what I eat or what I drink 1 2 Sam. xix. 35. 
6. To give a flavor or relish to. [Rare.] 
We will have a bunch of radish and salt to taste our 
wine. II. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, L 4. 
7. To have a taste for; relish; enjoy; like. 
I hear my former book of the Advancement of Learning 
Is well tasted In the universities here. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, Pref., p. xl. 
It was our first adopting the severity of French taste 
that has brought them In turn to taste us. 
Goldsmith, Good-natured Man, ill 
The Squire . . . regarded physic and doctors as many 
loyal churchmen regard the church and the clergy tatt- 
ing a joke against them when he was In health, but Im- 
patiently eager for their aid when anything was the mat- 
ter with him. George Eliot, Silas Marner, xl. 
8. To be agreeable or relishing to; please. 
[Kare.] 
Nor doubt I but in the service of such change of dishes 
there may be found amongst them, though not all to please 
every man, yet not any of them but may tatte some one or 
others palat. 
Heyuvod, Ep. to the Reader (Works, ed. 1874, VI. 90). 
9. To perceive ; recognize ; take cognizance of. 
I do taste this as a trick put on me. 
B. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, Iv. 8. 
Acquaint thyself with God, If thou wouldst tnitr 
His works. Covper, Task, v. 778. 
10. To know by experience; prove; undergo. 
That he by the grace of God should taste death for every 
moo- Heb. U. 9. 
If you taste any want of worldly means, 
Let not that discontent yon. 
Beau, and Ft., Laws of Candy, IL 1. 
11. To participate in; partake of, often with 
the idea of relish or enjoyment. 
A holy vow. 
Never to tatte the pleasures of the world. 
Shot., K. John, iv. 3. 68. 
And I believe that even the poor Americans, who have 
not yet tatted the sweetness of It [Trade], might be allured 
to It by an honest and just Commerce. 
Dampier, Voyages, II. L 116. 
He tatted love with half his mind. 
Tennyson, In Memoriam, xc. 
12. To smell. [Now prov. Eng. or poetical.] 
I can neither see the politic face, 
Nor with my refln'd nostrils tatte the footsteps 
Of any of my disciples. 
Middleton, Game at Chew, Ind. 
13f. To enjoy carnally. 
If you can make 't apparent 
That you have tasted her in bed, my hand 
And ring la yours. Shot., Cymbellne, II. 4. 57. 
