cattail

American  

[kat-teyl] / ˈkætˌteɪl /

noun

1. any tall, reedlike marsh plant of the genus Typha, especially T. latifolia, having long, sword-shaped leaves and dense, cylindrical clusters of minute brown flowers.

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Etymology

Origin of cattail

First recorded in 1425–75, cattail is from the late Middle English word cattestail. See cat, tail ¹

Example Sentences

Green cattail thickets line the shallow blue pool where the river backs up against the dam, a 31-foot-high concrete wall.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2023

She wakes up thinking about how metal tubes look like cattail heads and washers like the underside of a Kraken’s tentacled arm.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 1, 2022

Part of the plan involves reintroducing native plant species that are more appropriate to the site than Phragmites: narrowleaf cattail, pickerelweed, black willow, blue iris, buttonbush and alder.

From Washington Post • Sep. 11, 2021

The moment of seeing this belted kingfisher on the tip of a cattail, doing its call, swooping across the creek—and being so present in that moment—made me realize that I can actually enjoy my job.

From Scientific American • Jun. 5, 2020

She tucked the pouches of seeds and the small smooth stones between the folded clothes, and she rolled bundles of cattail reeds and willow twigs in a skirt.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko