Defn: The practice of seeking after, and hanging on, noblemen, or persons of quality, especially in English universities. [Cant, Eng.]

TUFTY
Tuft"y, a.

1. Abounding with tufts. Both in the tufty frith and in the mossy fell. Drayton.

2. Growing in tufts or clusters. Where tufty daisies nod at every gale. W. Browne.

TUG Tug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Tugging.] Etym: [OE. toggen; akin to OD. tocken to entice, G. zucken to jerk, draw, Icel. toga to draw, AS. téon, p. p. togen, to draw, G. ziehen, OHG. ziohan, Goth. tiuhan, L. ducere to lead, draw. Cf. Duke, Team, Tie, v. t., Touch, Tow, v. t., Tuck to press in, Toy a plaything.]

1. To pull or draw with great effort; to draw along with continued exertion; to haul along; to tow; as, to tug a loaded cart; to tug a ship into port. There sweat, there strain, tug the laborious oar. Roscommon.

2. To pull; to pluck. [Obs.] To ease the pain, His tugged cars suffered with a strain. Hudibras.

TUG
Tug, v. i.

1. To pull with great effort; to strain in labor; as, to tug at the oar; to tug against the stream. He tugged, he shook, till down they came. Milton.

2. To labor; to strive; to struggle. England now is left To tug and scamble and to part by the teeth The unowed interest of proud-swelling state. Shak.