: a compact tuft especially of grass or sedge
also : an area of raised solid ground in a marsh or bog that is bound together by roots of low vegetation

Examples of tussock in a Sentence

There were grassy tussocks throughout the marsh.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Author Emily Pennington in Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park Courtesy Emily Pennington The tussocks, which are tricky to walk on and even trickier to walk between, seemed built to sprain or break an ankle. Emily Pennington, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2023 According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, the fir tussock is the most common, the white-marked is the second most common and the definite is the rarest of the three. Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tussock was in 1607

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tussock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tussock. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

: a compact bunch especially of grass or sedge
also : an area of raised solid ground in a marsh or bog that is bound together by plant roots
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