Teasel
/ˈtiːzəl/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus.
- 2 any of several herbs of the genus Dipsacus native to the Old World having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts wordnet
- 3 The dried fruiting head of the fuller's teasel, Dipsacus sativa, used for teasing or carding cloth.
- 4 Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in dressing cloth.
Verb
- 1 To raise the nap on cloth; to tease; to card. archaic
Etymology
From Middle English tasel, tesel, from Old English tǣsel, tǣsl, from Proto-West Germanic *taisilu.