teasel
or tea·zel, tea·zle
- any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, having prickly leaves and flower heads.Compare teasel family.
- the dried flower head or bur of the plant D. fullonum, used for teasing or teaseling cloth.
- any mechanical contrivance used for teaseling.
- to raise a nap on (cloth) with teasels; dress by means of teasels.
Origin of teasel
Examples from the Web for teasel
Historical Examples of teasel
All these Indians spin the thread, of which they make their nets, of a kind of teasel.
The Conquest of the River Plate (1535-1555)Ulrich Schmidt
The teasel and sun and moon were emblematical of the chief staples of the place; the woollen trade and the mining interests.
A Book of the West. Volume I DevonS. Baring-Gould
In fact, 'the seal of the Port-reeve bears a church between a teasel and a saltire, with the sun and moon above.'
Devon, Its Moorlands, Streams and CoastsRosalind Northcote
There were large rocks and tangled masses of brambles, and faded clumps of ragwort and teasel, and yellow bracken stumps.
For the School ColoursAngela Brazil
The teasel (Dipsacus) was abundant, as were also several of the true thistles.
teasel
teazel or teazle
- 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 DipsacaceaeSee also fuller's teasel
- the prickly dried flower head of the fuller's teasel, used for teasing
- any manufactured implement used for the same purpose
- (tr) to tease (a fabric)
Word Origin for teasel
Word Origin and History for teasel
Old English tæsel "large thistle used in teasing cloth," from Proto-Germanic *taisilo (cf. Old High German zeisala), from root of Old English tæsan "to pluck" (see tease (v.)).