Tussock

Tussock
Tussock Tus"sock, n. [From {Tuz}.] [Written also {tussuck}.] 1. A tuft, as of grass, twigs, hair, or the like; especially, a dense tuft or bunch of grass or sedge. [1913 Webster]

Such laying of the hair in tussocks and tufts. --Latimer. [1913 Webster]

2. (Bot.) Same as {Tussock grass}, below. [1913 Webster]

3. (Zo["o]l.) A caterpillar of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths. The body of these caterpillars is covered with hairs which form long tufts or brushes. Some species are very injurious to shade and fruit trees. Called also {tussock caterpillar}. See {Orgyia}. [1913 Webster]

{Tussock grass}. (Bot.) (a) A tall, strong grass of the genus {Dactylis} ({Dactylis c[ae]spitosa}), valuable for fodder, introduced into Scotland from the Falkland Islands. (b) A tufted grass ({Aira c[ae]spitosa}). (c) Any kind of sedge ({Carex}) which forms dense tufts in a wet meadow or boggy place.

{Tussock moth} (Zo["o]l.), the imago of any tussock caterpillar. They belong to {Orgyia}, {Halecidota}, and allied genera. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Tussock — may refer to: Plants and ecology *Bunch grass *New Zealand tussock grasslands *Serrated Tussock ( Nassella trichotoma ) *Tussock (grass) *Tussock grassland *Tussock Grassland (Tanzania) Insects *Rusty Tussock Moth ( Orgyia antiqua ) *Western… …   Wikipedia

  • tussock — [tysɔk] n. m. ÉTYM. 1874, J. Verne, écrit tussac; angl. tussock, 1550; orig. obscure comme tusk « touffe ». ❖ ♦ Anglic., rare. Motte ou surface de terre résistante, formée par des racines végétales, dans un terrain marécageux. Graminée fréquente… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • tussock — 1540s, tuft of hair, of uncertain origin; Cf. earlier tusk (1520s) with the same meaning (and also of obscure origin). Meaning tuft of grass is first recorded c.1600 …   Etymology dictionary

  • tussock — ► NOUN ▪ a dense clump or tuft of grass. DERIVATIVES tussocky adjective. ORIGIN perhaps from dialect tusk «tuft», of unknown origin …   English terms dictionary

  • tussock — [tus′ək] n. [< ?] a thick tuft or clump of grass, sedge, twigs, etc. tussocky [tus′əkē] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Tussock — Tussack Prairie de Tussack, Nassella Le tussack (appelée stipe parfois) est un surnom donné aux touffes d herbes poussant en prairies humides dans les régions tempérées. Ce nom regroupe plusieurs espèces appartenant aux familles des graminées des …   Wikipédia en Français

  • tussock — UK [ˈtʌsək] / US noun [countable] Word forms tussock : singular tussock plural tussocks a small area of stiff grass that is higher than the grass around it …   English dictionary

  • tussock — /ˈtʌsək / (say tusuhk) noun 1. a tuft or clump of growing grass or the like. 2. Also, tussock grass. any of various grasses of the genus Poa. 3. any of a number of grass or sedge species as serrated tussock. {apparently related to Middle High… …  

  • tussock — n. 1 a clump of grass etc. 2 (in full tussock moth) any moth of the genus Orgyia etc., with tufted larvae. Phrases and idioms: tussock grass grass growing in tussocks, esp. Poa flabellata from Patagonia etc. Derivatives: tussocky adj. Etymology:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • tussock — [[t]tʌ̱sək[/t]] tussocks N COUNT: oft N of n A tussock is a small piece of grass which is much longer and thicker than the grass around it …   English dictionary

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