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.
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Tea·sel n. [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.
Note: ☞ Small teasel is Dipsacus pilosus, wild teasel is Dipsacus 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
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]