noun

1. a bunch of hairs, feathers, grass, etc. growing closely together or attached at the base
2. any similar cluster; specif.,
   1. a clump of plants or trees
   2. the fluffy ball forming the end of any of the clusters of threads drawn tightly through a mattress, quilt, etc. to hold the padding in place
   3. a decorative button to which such a tuft is fastened

Etymology: ME (with unhistoric -t) < OFr tufe, prob. < L tufa, a kind of helmet crest

transitive verb

1. to provide or decorate with a tuft or tufts
2. to secure the padding of (a quilt, mattress, etc.) by regularly spaced tufts

intransitive verb