teasel

tea·sel  (tzl)

n.

1. Any of several plants of the genus Dipsacus, native to the Old World, having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts.

2.

a. The bristly flower head of D. sativus, used to produce a napped surface on wool and other fabrics.

b. A wire device used to produce a napped surface.

tr.v. tea·seled or tea·selled, tea·sel·ing or tea·sel·ling, tea·sels

To produce a napped surface on (a fabric).

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[Middle English tesel, from Old English tsel.]

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teasel, teazel or teazle

Noun

1. a plant of Eurasia and N Africa, with prickly heads of yellow or purple flowers

2. the dried flower head of a teasel, used, esp. formerly, for raising the nap of cloth [Old English tǣsel]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

teasel - any of several herbs of the genus Dipsacus native to the Old World having flower heads surrounded by spiny bracts teasle, teazel herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests Dipsacus, genus Dipsacus - type genus of the Dipsacaceae: teasel common teasel, Dipsacus fullonum - teasel with lilac flowers native to Old World but naturalized in North America; dried flower heads used to raise a nap on woolen cloth Dipsacus sativus, fuller's teasel - similar to the common teasel and similarly used; widespread in Europe and North Africa and western Asia; naturalized in United States Dipsacus sylvestris, wild teasel - European teasel with white to pink flowers; naturalized in United States