tufts
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
At the University, noblemen, who pay high fees and are distinguished by golden TUFTS, or tassels, in their caps.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “tufts” mean?
At the University, noblemen, who pay high fees and are distinguished by golden TUFTS, or tassels, in their caps.
Is “tufts” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.