Category:Teasel

Tea"sel, n. Etym: [oe. tesel, as. t, t, the fuller's herb. See Tease.] [written also tassel, tazel, teasle, teazel, and teazle.]

1. (bot.)

Defn: a plant of the genus dipsacus, of which one species (d. 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.

Note: small teasel is dipsacus pilosus, wild teasel is d. sylvestris.

2. A bur of this plant.

3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in dressing Cloth. Teasel frame, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel Heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.

Teasel Tea"sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Teaseled or teaselled; p. pr. & vb. n. Teaseling or teaselling.]

Defn: to subject, as woolen cloth, to the action of teasels, or any Substitute for them which has an effect to raise a nap.