Hypertext Webster Gateway: "teasel"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Teasel \Tea"sel\, n. [OE. tesel, AS. t?sel, t?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 ({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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Teasel \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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
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}]
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