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

All these Indians spin the thread, of which they make their nets, of a kind of teasel.

From Project Gutenberg

But none of these processes have succeeded in discarding the natural teasel from the most eminent manufactories.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, 'the seal of the Port-reeve bears a church between a teasel and a saltire, with the sun and moon above.'

From Project Gutenberg

We conclude this chapter with a description of the common Teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris) of the order Dipsace.

From Project Gutenberg

Tease, earlier toose, means to pluck or pull to pieces, hence the name teasel for the thistle used by wool-carders.

From Project Gutenberg