teasel

or tea·zel, tea·zle

[ tee-zuhl ]

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, having prickly leaves and flower heads. Compare teasel family.
2. the dried flower head or bur of the plant D. fullonum, used for teasing or teaseling cloth.
3. any mechanical contrivance used for teaseling.

verb (used with object)

, tea·seled, tea·sel·ing or (especially British) tea·selled, tea·sel·ling.

1. to raise a nap on (cloth) with teasels; dress by means of teasels.

teasel

/ ˈtiːzəl /

noun

1. any of various stout biennial plants of the genus Dipsacus, of Eurasia and N Africa, having prickly leaves and prickly heads of yellow or purple flowers: family Dipsacaceae See also fuller's teasel
2. 1. the prickly dried flower head of the fuller's teasel, used for teasing
   2. any manufactured implement used for the same purpose

verb

1. tr to tease (a fabric)

Derived Forms

• ˈteaseller, noun

Other Words From

• teasel·er especially British, teasel·ler noun
• un·teaseled adjective
• un·teaselled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of teasel¹

before 1000; Middle English tesel, Old English tǣsel; akin to tease

Word History and Origins

Origin of teasel¹

Old English tǣsel; related to Old High German zeisala teasel, Norwegian tīsl undergrowth, tīsla to tear to bits; see tease

Example Sentences

Behind the bar, they swagged a second garland made from teasel and sweet gum and poppy seed pods.

From Seattle Times

They are targeting Johnson grass, giant foxtail, Canada thistle, nodding thistle, common teasel, multiflora rose, Amur honeysuckle, poison hemlock, marestail, Japanese knotweed and kudzu.

From Washington Times

They like to sit there and watch the wind blowing through the pale purple teasel, alone but for the murder of crows that guard their property.

From New York Times

And while seedheads of coneflower and teasel hardly get a second glance in summer, they begin to look mighty interesting come February.

From Washington Times

But the women were rewarded with the sight of two bright orange sulfur butterflies and a cluster of Western tiger swallowtail supping on teasel flowers.

From Washington Times