Illustration of teasel
- teasel 1a
teasel
1 of 2noun
tea·sel ˈtē-zəl 
1
a
: an Old World prickly herb (Dipsacus fullonum of the family Dipsacaceae, the teasel family) with flower heads that are covered with stiff hooked bracts and were used especially formerly in the woolen industry
called also fuller's teasel
b
: a plant of the same genus as the teasel
2
a
: a flower head of the fuller's teasel used when dried to raise a nap on woolen cloth
b
: a wire substitute for the teasel
teasel
2 of 2verb
teaseled or teaselled; teaseling or teaselling ˈtēz-liŋ
ˈtē-zə-
transitive verb
: to nap (cloth) with teasels
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Owen Thomas, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Apr. 2021 One of those, teasel, has taken over open hillsides on the east bank of the river south of W. Cleveland Ave. Don Behm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2018 Some Indian tailors who make expensive clothing use cashmere refined by an Irish mill, the last one in the world apparently, and use teasel for that purpose. Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 31 May 2017
Noun
The dill, the fuller’s teasel, lotus, a few other plants are green and blooming. Owen Thomas, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Apr. 2021 One of those, teasel, has taken over open hillsides on the east bank of the river south of W. Cleveland Ave. Don Behm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2018 Some Indian tailors who make expensive clothing use cashmere refined by an Irish mill, the last one in the world apparently, and use teasel for that purpose. Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 31 May 2017 Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English tesel, from Old English tǣsel; akin to Old English tǣsan to tease
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1543, in the meaning defined above