teasel

teasel
—teaseler; esp. Brit., teaseller, n.
/tee"zeuhl/, n., v., teaseled, teaseling or (esp. Brit.) teaselled, teaselling.
n.
1. any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, having prickly leaves and flower heads. Cf. 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.
v.t.
4. to raise a nap on (cloth) with teasels; dress by means of teasels.
Also, teazel, teazle.
[bef. 1000; ME tesel, OE taesel; akin to TEASE]

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Any of about 15 species constituting the genus Dipsacus of the family Dipsacaceae (the teasel family), native to Europe, the Mediterranean area, and tropical Africa.

Many teasels are prickly, coarse biennials with tall-domed heads of numerous, four-lobed flowers that sit on a crownlike circle of spiny, narrow bracts. The spiny, dry fruiting heads of fuller's teasel (D. sativus) have been used since Roman times to raise the nap of woolen fabrics in a process known as fulling.

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▪ plant genus
 any of about 15 species constituting the genus Dipsacus of the family Dipsacaceae, native to Europe, the Mediterranean area, and tropical Africa. Many teasels are prickly, coarse biennials with opposite leaves that join at the base to form a rainwater-holding trough around the stem. The tall-domed heads of numerous, four-lobed flowers sit on a crownlike circle of spiny, narrow bracts (leaflike structures). Male parts mature before female parts to ensure cross-pollination.

      Fuller's teasel (D. sativus), nearly 1 m (3 feet) tall, bears pale lilac heads of flowers with hooked bracts. The spiny, dry fruiting heads have been used since Roman times to raise the nap of woolen fabrics in a process known as fulling. The plant is raised commercially in both Europe and North America for this purpose. Common teasel (D. fullonum, sometimes D. sylvestris) is similar but has upright rather than hooked bracts that are not useful for fulling. Common teasel is treated as a weed in both Europe and North America. D. inermis from the Himalayas produces white flowers and leaves that are divided into many segments. Shepherd's rod (D. pilosus), native to Europe, has a globe-shaped flower head and white blooms with violet anthers.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Teasel — Tea sel, n. [OE. tesel, AS. t[=ae]sel, t[=ae]sl, the fuller s herb. See {Tease}.] [Written also {tassel}, {tazel}, {teasle}, {teazel}, and {teazle}.] 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Dipsacus}, of which one species ({Dipsacus fullonum}) bears a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • teasel — [tē′zəl] n. [ME tasel < OE tæsel < base of tæsan, to TEASE] 1. 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… …   English World dictionary

  • teasel — (also teazle or teazel) ► NOUN 1) a tall prickly plant with spiny purple flower heads. 2) a dried head from a teasel, or a similar man made device, used to raise a nap on woven cloth. ORIGIN Old English, related to TEASE(Cf. ↑tease) …   English terms dictionary

  • Teasel — Tea sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Teaseled}or {Teaselled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Teaseling} or {Teaselling}.] To subject, as woolen cloth, to the action of teasels, or any substitute for them which has an effect to raise a nap. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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 (Cf. tease) (v.)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • teasel — (Brit.) tea·sel || tɪːzl v. comb, raise a nap on cloth (also teazel) tea·sel || tɪːzl n. type of plant …   English contemporary dictionary

  • teasel — I. noun Etymology: Middle English tesel, from Old English tǣsel; akin to Old English tǣsan to tease Date: before 12th century 1. a. an Old World prickly herb (Dipsacus fullonum of the family Dipsacaceae, the teasel family) with flower heads that… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • teasel — (also teazle or teazel) noun 1》 a tall prickly plant with spiny purple flower heads. [Genus Dipsacus: several species.] 2》 a dried head from a teasel, or a similar man made device, used to raise a nap on woven cloth. verb chiefly archaic raise a… …   English new terms dictionary

  • teasel — UK [ˈtiːz(ə)l] / US [ˈtɪz(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms teasel : singular teasel plural teasels a plant with flowers and leaves that have sharp points …   English dictionary

  • teasel — [[t]ti͟ːz(ə)l[/t]] teasels also teazel, teazle N COUNT A teasel is a plant with dry prickly flowers and leaves …   English dictionary

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