teaselling

Variant of teasel

teasel definition

tea·sel (tē′zəl)

noun

  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 flower heads having sharp, spinelike bracts
  2. a flower head of the fuller's teasel, used when dried for raising a nap on cloth
  3. any device for raising a nap on cloth

Etymology: ME tasel < OE tæsel < base of tæsan, to tease

adjective

designating a family (Dipsacaceae, order Dipsacales) of dicotyledonous plants bearing dense flower heads covered with stiff bracts, including scabiosa and teasel

transitive verb teaseled -·seled, teaselled -·selled, teaseling -·sel·ing, teaselling -·sel·ling

to raise a nap on (cloth) by means of teasels

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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