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teasel

 - 3 dictionary results

tea⋅sel

  [tee-zuhl] noun, verb, -seled, -sel⋅ing or (especially British) -selled, -sel⋅ling.
Use teasel in a Sentence
–noun
1. any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, having prickly leaves and flower heads. Compare teasel family.
2. the dried flower head or bur of the plant D. fullonum, used for teasing or teaseling cloth.
3. any mechanical contrivance used for teaseling.
–verb (used with object)
4. to raise a nap on (cloth) with teasels; dress by means of teasels.
Also, teazel, teazle.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME tesel, OE tǣsel; akin to tease

Related forms:
tea⋅sel⋅er; especially British, tea⋅sel⋅ler, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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tea·sel   (tē'zəl)   
n.  

  1. Any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, native to the Old World, having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts.

    1. The bristly flower head of D. sativus, used to produce a napped surface on wool and other fabrics.

    2. A wire device used to produce a napped surface.

tr.v.   tea·seled or tea·selled, tea·sel·ing or tea·sel·ling, tea·sels
To produce a napped surface on (a fabric).

[Middle English tesel, from Old English tǣsel.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

teasel 
O.E. tæsel "large thistle used in teasing cloth," from P.Gmc. *taisilo (cf. O.H.G. zeisala), from root of O.E. tæsan "to pluck" (see tease).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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