Cat-tail

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  cattail \cat"tail\, Cat-tail \Cat"-tail\(k[a^]t"t[=a]l), n.
     (Bot.)
     A tall erect rush or flag ({Typha latifolia}) growing widely
     in fresh and salt marshes, with long, flat, sword-shaped
     leaves, having clusters of small brown flowers in a dense
     cylindrical spike at the top of the stem; -- called also


     {bulrush} and {reed mace}. The leaves are frequently used for
     seating chairs, making mats, etc. See {Catkin}.
     [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
  
     Note: The {lesser cat-tail} is {Typha angustifolia}.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cattail
       n : tall erect herbs with sword-shaped leaves; cosmopolitan in
           fresh and salt marshes