Found 2 items, similar to teasel.
English → English (WordNet)
Definition: teasel
teasel
n : any of several herbs of the genus Dipsacus native to the Old
World having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts
[syn:
teazel,
teasle]
[also:
teaselling,
teaselled]
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Teasel
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 large flower head
covered with stiff, prickly, hooked bracts. This flower
head, when dried, is used for raising a nap on woolen
cloth.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Small teasel is
Dipsacus pilosus, wild teasel is
Dipsacus sylvestris.
[1913 Webster]
2. A bur of this plant.
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3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in
dressing cloth.
[1913 Webster]
Teasel frame, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel
heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.
[1913 Webster]
Teasel
\Tea"sel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Teaseledor
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]