teasel

teasel
I. noun Etymology: Middle English tesel, from Old English tǣsel; akin to Old English tǣsan to tease Date: before 12th century 1. a. an Old World prickly herb (Dipsacus fullonum of the family Dipsacaceae, the teasel family) with flower heads that are covered with stiff hooked bracts and were used especially formerly in the woolen industry — called also fuller's teasel b. a plant of the same genus as the teasel 2. a. a flower head of the fuller's teasel used when dried to raise a nap on woolen cloth b. a wire substitute for the teasel II. transitive verb (teaseled or teaselled; teaseling or teaselling) Date: 1543 to nap (cloth) with teasels

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Teasel — Tea sel, n. [OE. tesel, AS. t[=ae]sel, t[=ae]sl, the fuller s herb. See {Tease}.] [Written also {tassel}, {tazel}, {teasle}, {teazel}, and {teazle}.] 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Dipsacus}, of which one species ({Dipsacus fullonum}) bears a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • teasel — [tē′zəl] n. [ME tasel < OE tæsel < base of tæsan, to TEASE] 1. any of a genus (Dipsacus) of bristly plants of the teasel family, with prickly, cylindrical heads of yellowish or purplish flowers, esp. the fuller s teasel ( D. fullonum) with… …   English World dictionary

  • teasel — (also teazle or teazel) ► NOUN 1) a tall prickly plant with spiny purple flower heads. 2) a dried head from a teasel, or a similar man made device, used to raise a nap on woven cloth. ORIGIN Old English, related to TEASE(Cf. ↑tease) …   English terms dictionary

  • Teasel — Tea sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Teaseled}or {Teaselled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Teaseling} or {Teaselling}.] To subject, as woolen cloth, to the action of teasels, or any substitute for them which has an effect to raise a nap. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • teasel — O.E. tæsel large thistle used in teasing cloth, from P.Gmc. *taisilo (Cf. O.H.G. zeisala), from root of O.E. tæsan to pluck (see TEASE (Cf. tease) (v.)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • teasel — (Brit.) tea·sel || tɪːzl v. comb, raise a nap on cloth (also teazel) tea·sel || tɪːzl n. type of plant …   English contemporary dictionary

  • teasel — teaseler; esp. Brit., teaseller, n. /tee zeuhl/, n., v., teaseled, teaseling or (esp. Brit.) teaselled, teaselling. n. 1. any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, having prickly leaves and flower heads. Cf. teasel family. 2. the dried flower… …   Universalium

  • teasel — (also teazle or teazel) noun 1》 a tall prickly plant with spiny purple flower heads. [Genus Dipsacus: several species.] 2》 a dried head from a teasel, or a similar man made device, used to raise a nap on woven cloth. verb chiefly archaic raise a… …   English new terms dictionary

  • teasel — UK [ˈtiːz(ə)l] / US [ˈtɪz(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms teasel : singular teasel plural teasels a plant with flowers and leaves that have sharp points …   English dictionary

  • teasel — [[t]ti͟ːz(ə)l[/t]] teasels also teazel, teazle N COUNT A teasel is a plant with dry prickly flowers and leaves …   English dictionary

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