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Teasel definition

tēzəl
teasels
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Any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, native to Eurasia and northern Africa, having prickly stems and flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts.
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The cultivated teasel D. sativus.
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The bristly flower head of this plant, used to produce a napped surface on wool and other fabrics.
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A wire device used to produce a napped surface.
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To produce a napped surface on (a fabric).
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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.
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A flower head of the fuller's teasel, used when dried for raising a nap on cloth.
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Any device for raising a nap on cloth.
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Designating a family (Dipsacaceae, order Dipsacales) of dicotyledonous plants bearing dense flower heads covered with stiff bracts, including scabiosa and teasel.
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To raise a nap on (cloth) by means of teasels.
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Any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus.
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The dried flower head of the fuller's teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, used for teasing or carding cloth.
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Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in dressing cloth.
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To raise the nap on cloth; to tease; to card.
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Alternative Forms

Alternative Form of teasel - teazel, teasle, teazle

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
teasel
Plural:
teasels

Origin of teasel

  • Middle English tesel from Old English tǣsel

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English tesel, tasil, tasel, tosel, from Old English tÇ£sel, tÇ£sl (“to tease"), from Proto-Germanic *taisilō, *taislō (“thistle"), from Proto-Indo-European *dāy- (“to separate, divide"). Cognate with Scots tasil, tassill (“teasel"), German Zeisel (“thistle, teasel"). Related to tease.

    From Wiktionary