cat·tail, Cat-tail n. Bot. A tall erect rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing widely in fresh and salt marshes, with long, flat, sword-shaped leaves, having clusters of small brown flowers in a dense cylindrical spike at the top of the stem; -- called also bulrush and reed mace. The leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin.
 Note: ☞ The lesser cat-tail is Typha angustifolia.
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 reed mace
      n : tall marsh plant with cylindrical seed heads that explode
          when mature shedding large quantities of down; its long
          flat leaves are used for making mats and chair seats; of
          North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa [syn: cat's-tail,
           bullrush, bulrush, nailrod, reedmace, Typha
          latifolia]