DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 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.

 Tea·sle n. & v. t. See Teasel.
 ◄ ►

 teasle
      n : any of several herbs of the genus Dipsacus native to the Old
          World having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts
          [syn: teasel, teazel]