Obs. exc. dial. [Of obscure origin; agrees in sense with TUSSOCK, which is found in use 20 years later. The variant tush (see TUSH sb.2) is common to this and TUSK sb.1, but it is doubtful if there is any real connection between the words.] A tuft (of hair); also, of rushes, grass, etc.
1530. Palsgr., 284/1. Tuske of heer, monceau de cheueulx.
1565–73. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Cirrus, Cirratus, that hath his heare … growing in tuskes and lockes.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 67 b. With a yellow hearie tuske in the midst.
1598. W. Phillip, trans. Linschoten, I. xxxix. 74. They weare onely a tuske of haire on the toppes of their heades, which they suffer to grow long.
1611. Markham, Country Content., I. iv. (1668), 26. Grounds that are all tusks of rushes, short ling, bramble bushes, or such like.
1851. Sternberg, Dial. Northampt., Tusk, a tuft of grass or weeds.
