teasedadj.
/tiːzd/ 1.
a. Having the fibres pulled asunder: see tease v.1 1. In quot. 1620 figurative. Also teased out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > tearing or tearing apart > [adjective] > torn or torn apart > of cloth or clothing
teasedc1430
seam-rent1548
seamrept1625
c1430 Two Cookery-bks. 22 Caste þer-to tesyd brawn.
1620 J. Brinsley tr. Virgil Eclogues vi. 58 To sing a teased verse (Margin) A pastorall song.., drawne out small like wooll in spinning.
1851 Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal. p. iv**/1 This cylinder is cleaned of the teazed cotton by means of brushes.
1875 T. H. Huxley & H. N. Martin Course Elem. Biol. (1877) 258 Treat a fresh bit of teased-out nerve with chloroform.
b. Of hair: fluffed out by back-combing. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [adjective] > combed
kemptc1050
well-kempt1327
combed1870
teased1965
1965 A. Lurie Nowhere City xiv. 147 A waitress appeared in the courtyard, shivering in a teased hair-do and a pink uniform.
1983 J. Valin Natural Causes xxix. 200 A pretty nurse with teased brown hair.
2.
a. Irritated or annoyed in a petty way.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > [adjective] > teased
teased1627
1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (new ed.) iii. 527 Vntill the townesmens teased valour broke..The fence.
1852–5 M. Arnold Faded Leaves, River v This teased o'erlabour'd heart.
b. With out. Worn out, exhausted. colloquial. rare.
ΚΠ
1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 65 Teased out, worn out or tired after a long spell of flying or other duty.
1961 D. Moore Highway of Fear i. 9 What about you? Still with that teased-out shipping company?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adj.c1430