cattail

[kat-teyl] /ˈkætˌteɪl/

noun

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.

Also called bulrush, reed mace.

Origin

1425-75; late Middle English cattestail. See cat, tail¹

Examples from the web for cattail

cattail rootstocks are much more valuable as food for wildlife than are the seeds.
It's a dragonfly swooping down to land on a cattail.
With enough root disturbance, discing can set back cattail regrowth.
Many species use the bulrush and cattail habitat that lines the lake's small bays.

British Dictionary definitions for cattail

cat-tail

noun (Canadian)

another word for bulrush

Word Origin and History for cattail

also cat's tail, type of plant, mid-15c., from cat (n.) + tail (n.).